R.I.P. Michal Hernik, first fatality of the 2015 Dakar Rally

World's biggest off road race- the Dakar Rally has claimed its first fatality of the season 2015. The Polish biker- Michal Hernik has been found dead of unknown causes during the third stage of the season. It was the debut season for the 39-year-old rally rider in Dakar, however, he had already completed in the 2013 Morocco Rally and 2014 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.

According to the rally officials, a search unit was dispatched for Hernik when they lost the GPS signal from his KTM 450 Rally Replica. After 40 minutes, the searching helicopter found his body around 1,000 feet away from the race route, at 206 kilometer in the (third) stage, between San Juan and Chilecito in Argentina.

A statement from race organisers read: "The Polish bike rider Michal Hernik was found dead on the selective section of the third stage of the rally between San Juan and Chilecito at kilometre 206.

"The circumstances surrounding his death have yet to be determined, as the competitor did not show any external signs of an accident.

"When the race management detected the loss of his Irritrack signal and was informed that he had not completed the special stage at3.16pm (local time), it decided to start a search for the rider at 3.23.

"An ambulance helicopter found the rider 300 metres off the route at 4.03. Unfortunately, the on-board doctor could only confirm the rider's death."

The statement continued: "The whole Dakar family offers its condolences to Michal's family, close friends and team."