Dakar rider dies

South African Elmer Symons died early in Tuesday’s fourth stage of the Dakar rally from Er Rachidia to Ouarzazate.

The race headquarters received an Iritrack alert at 9.16am, coming from 142km into the fourth stage.

The medical helicopter reached the crash site eight minutes later but the race direction could only record the death of the rider.

Head of a company specialised in the exportation of metal parts from the United States to South Africa, 29-year-old Symons was taking part in his first Dakar as a competitor.

He was 18th overall after Monday’s third stage on his KTM.