Co-driver Picard airlifted to hospitalLuc Alphand has retired from the Dakar Rally due to health problems affecting his co-driver, Gilles Picard.
A dozen kilometres into today's stage, the crew stopped their Mitsubishi Lancer in order to dig out some sand. Picard
was in the process of doing so when he suddenly felt sick.
Alphand immediately contacted the rally's medical service to request assistance and a helicopter was rushed to their location. Picard was sent to a hospital in San Rafaël, where an electro-cardiogram showed nothing particularly worrisome.
It is expected that Picard will join his teammates this evening at the bivouac.
Marie-France Estenave
