Boero dies at Dakar Rally

Added on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments

Tragedy struck at the Dakar Rally on Sunday after Argentinean rider Jorge Martínez Boero died on the opening day of the event.

Boero, 38, suffered a heart attack after being badly injured in a fall from his Beta bike, just 2km from the end of the stage between Mar del Plata and Santa Rosa de la Pampa in the west of Argentina.

He received medical attention within five minutes of the crash but died while being airlifted to hospital.

Boero was the son of a former Argentine racing champion of the same name who died in 2004 and his death is the 21^st of a competitor in a Dakar Rally.

Early reports have suggested that Boero may have fallen after running off the course and striking an open sewer line.

“The organisers of the rally offer their heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones,” race officials said in a brief statement.

At the end of stage two yesterday, defending champion Marc Coma leads the bike race, 00:01:18 ahead of Frances Cyril Despres.

Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.