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Heartbreak for Bruce Garland at the Argentina Chile Dakar Rally with the Sydney driver forced out of the event with a back injury.
The Isuzu Motorsports driver fractured a vertebra as his Isuzu D-MAX ute bounced off a sand dune and landed heavily during stage 5 in Chile.
Garland is now in hospital after initial examination and referral by the Dakar organisation’s mobile medical unit. He is expected to be transferred to the capital Santiago for further assessment. His brother, who is a doctor, is in regular contact with the local experts.
Garland, who was running 22nd outright in the event, has full movement and there is little chance of further damage as long as he stays stabilised under medical supervision until the full extent of the injury is known and treatment decided on.
At the time it happened, Garland was typically dismissive of the pain, saying it was nothing a few pain killers and a teaspoon of cement wouldn’t fix, but by day’s end it was obviously more serious.
“We are extremely concerned at the news of Bruce’s injury,” said Isuzu UTE Australia managing director Hitoshi Kono.
“He is a wonderful character and a great ambassador for our brand. We hope he rests properly and can start on a recovery program as soon as possible,”
The Dakar organisation is working closely with Isuzu Motorsports to provide whatever assistance is necessary for Bruce, his family and the crew.
