Rally star Mathieu Baumel after accident: leg amputation is imminent!

Rally star Mathieu Baumel after accident: leg amputation is imminent!

49-year-old French rally co-driver Mathieu Baumel, known for his four victories in the Dakar Rally, has suffered serious injuries in a tragic accident. Baumel was on his way to the historic Monte Carlo Rally when he wanted to help another vehicle on a motorway near Reims. He was hit by a Renault Clio, which led to a dramatic situation, among other things Krone.at reported.

The incident occurred when Baumel pulled up to a broken down Alfa Romeo. According to his father, Gérard Baumel, he was tending to the occupants of the damaged vehicle when the Renault hit him. The 73-year-old driver of the Clio and her 70-year-old passenger remained largely unharmed, while Baumel was placed in an induced coma to treat his serious injuries. Doctors determined that his right leg would have to be amputated. “It’s serious,” said Gérard Baumel in an interview with La Provence.

Fight for recovery

The initial injuries to his right leg are so serious that the experienced co-pilot has already undergone several operations. In a recent Instagram post, Baumel shared that he had made the decision to amputate his leg. “After 17 days, I’m obviously feeling much better,” he reports optimistically. In addition, his left leg, which has been operated on three times so far, requires further treatment, but Baumel is confident that he can recover in the long term.

Baumel made a name for himself alongside Nasser Al-Attiyah by winning the Dakar Rally in 2015, 2019 and 2022 and 2023. However, the current tragedy could mean the end of the career of one of rallying's most sought-after co-drivers Rallyjournal.com determines.