Spanish motorcyclist Carles Falcon dies as result of injuries suffered in Dakar rally

MADRID -- Spanish motorcyclist Carles Falcon died on Monday from the injuries he suffered following a fall in the second stage of the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, his TwinTrail racing team confirmed.

Falcon had been flown back to Spain after the fall in which suffered a cerebral edema, along with fractured ribs, a fractured wrist and broken collar bone.

"The medical team has confirmed that the neurological damage caused by the cardiorespiratory arrest at the time of the accident is irreversible. He has left us," confirmed the rider's team.

"Carlos was a smiling person, always active, who passionately enjoyed everything he did, especially motorcycles. He left us doing something that was his dream, riding in the Dakar. He was enjoying it, he was happy on the motorcycle. We must remember him for his smile and for the happiness he generated in everyone," added TwinTrail.

Falcon suffered the fall during a rapid section of the second stage of the race, suffering a serious head injury and losing consciousness.

Fellow competitor, Alexandre Azinhais discovered him without a pulse, but initially saved his life by carrying out resuscitation techniques for around 15 minutes, before medical staff arrived and were able to transfer him to hospital, where Falcon was placed in an induced coma, from which he never recovered.