A triathlete hit by a car while out cycling has died. Mehdi Karasane, from Abu Dhabi, was with three friends when he was struck from behind two weeks ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately he\u2019s succumbed to his injuries,\u201d said Anne Tullis, a spokeswoman for Etihad Airways, Karasane\u2019s employer. \u201cI believe he passed away this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n
An Al Rahba hospital manager, who did not want to be named, said Karasane died from head injuries at about 9am on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Karasane, a married Algerian expatriate in his 30s, had been in a critical condition at Al Rahba hospital since November 9, when he was hit on the Abu Dhabi to Dubai road, near exit 390.<\/p>\n
He was accompanied by three other cyclists who were not injured in the accident.<\/p>\n
Karasane\u2019s death triggered an outpouring of sympathy from the triathlete community.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is it … My Soul Mate is Gone!!!,\u201d Hamid Belkebir wrote on the TriDubai\u2019s Facebook page as he told the group about his friend\u2019s death.<\/p>\n
Another member described how everyone had been rooting for Karasane\u2019s recovery.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know some of us didn\u2019t know Mehdi, and having heard what a great man he was, can only wish to have known him, but we were all 100% rooting for his recovery, hoping that he would be reunited with his family and friends,\u201d posted Vicky Arscott.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur sporting communities in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and elsewhere are united on this front, and it is so saddening to see another member of the community so tragically taken. I hope that you and his family can find some comfort in the wonderful times you spent together and memories you have of him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Karasane\u2019s death comes two months after another UAE triathlete was killed after being hit by a car.<\/p>\n
Roy Nasr, a Lebanese expatriate who lived in Dubai, was killed by a drink-driver on September 6 while on a training ride with friends near Safa Park. The driver who killed him and injured the others was jailed for a month.<\/p>\n
Karasane had lived in the UAE for six years and worked as a cabin manager for Etihad Airways. He was actively involved in the company\u2019s social and sports committee.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll his colleagues really hold him in great esteem,\u201d Mrs Tullis said. \u201cHe was very well known among the cabin-crew fraternity. That group of staff is very close and they\u2019re going to feel his loss very deeply.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kevin Duell, of the Raha Cycling Group in Abu Dhabi, did not know Karasane personally but said his loss would be felt throughout the cycling community.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a very sad thing to happen,\u201d Mr Duell said. \u201cI feel sorry for his family and the people he leaves behind.\u201d<\/p>\n
Abu Dhabi Triathlon Club\u2019s Russ Fraser said more needed to be done to help prevent these deaths.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need a focused campaign to make people aware of the cyclists on the road and we need a cycle track,\u201d Mr Fraser said. \u201cDubai\u2019s got one and we want one in Abu Dhabi. That would go a long way to solving the problem.\u201d<\/p>\n
An Abu Dhabi cyclist, who asked not to be named, said the athletic community was angered by the lack of action being taken to protect cyclists and pedestrians. \u201cOf course it angers us,\u201d the cyclist said.<\/p>\n
The cyclist said many athletes, especially the two latest victims, proudly represented the UAE in competitions around the world but nothing was being done here to safeguard them.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe see a lot about trying to slow people down on the roads, a focused campaign against speeding and all of that, why not include cycling and beyond that pedestrians as well?\u201d the cyclist asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cUntil somebody dies who\u2019s important enough it\u2019s not going to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A triathlete hit by a car while out cycling has died. Mehdi Karasane, from Abu Dhabi, was with three friends when he was struck from behind two weeks ago. \u201cUnfortunately he\u2019s succumbed to his injuries,\u201d said Anne Tullis, a spokeswoman for Etihad Airways, Karasane\u2019s employer. \u201cI believe he passed away this morning.\u201d An Al Rahba …<\/p>\n