The Dakar Rally organisers on Friday said that French motorcycle rider Pierre Cherpin died from his injuries after a fall during the Rally, becoming the notoriously perilous race’s first fatality this year, AFP reported.

“During his transfer by medical plane from Jeddah to France, Pierre Cherpin died from the injuries caused by his fall… on January 10th,” a statement said.

Portuguese rider Paulo Goncalves died last year during the race, which bills itself as the “world’s toughest and biggest rally”.

Cherpin, 52, who was competing in his fourth Dakar Rally, was found unconscious after his crash and taken to hospital in Sakaka before he was airlifted to Jedda.

After emergency neurosurgery, the entrepreneur and sailing enthusiast had been in an induced coma and was in a stable condition ahead of his transfer to Lille.

“I am an amateur, I don’t want to win but to discover landscapes that I would never have had the opportunity to see otherwise,” he said earlier, according to the statement.

“Everything is exciting: riding the bike, living your passion, getting to know yourself.”