Polish motorcyclist Michal Hernik dies in Dakar Rally (updated)
Xinhua, January 7, 2015 Adjust font size:
Polish motorcyclist Michal Hernik (KTM) died of unknown causes during his race, said Dakar Rally organizers on Tuesday.
Hernik, 39, was found lying dead near the third stage route between the Argentinean cities of San Juan and Chilecito. He showed no signs of an accident.
A helicopter search party found his body at kilometer 206 of Cuesta de Miranda, in La Rioja province, around 4 p.m. local time.
It was the first time Hernik participated in the race. His death is the first in this year's Dakar rally and the fifth since the rally was moved to South America over security concerns in the Sahara desert in 2009.
That year, France's Thierry Pascal died, followed by Argentina's Jorge Martinez Boero in 2012, France's Thomas Bourgin in 2013 and Belgium's Eric Palante in 2014. All were riding motorbikes.
Overall, 24 deaths have been recorded since the race was created in 1979. Endi
