Frenchman Philippe Croizon has no arms and no legs, but that did not stop him becoming the first quadruple amputee to swim the English Channel.
And the 48-year-old adventurer has set his sights on a new challenge: to complete the Dakar Rally.
Croizon is to drive a specially modified buggy during the grueling two-week rally in Argentina in January next year, using just the stumps of his arms.
Photo: AFP
“As I can neither touch the steering wheel or the pedal, I’ll drive using a hydraulic joystick,” he said. “I’ll manage the acceleration, braking and direction with the stump of my right arm. With the left, I’ll operate a selector. I push a button to talk to my co-driver, I push to gear shift up and pull to come back down; that replaces the clutch — it’s like a video game.”
Croizon has been living life from a wheelchair since 1994 when he was electrocuted while trying to take down his television aerial, subsequently having all four limbs amputated.
On Thursday, he was strapped into the seat to test the two-wheel buggy for the first time.
“I’m bound up like a roast dinner,” Croizon joked.
Because of his disability, Croizon’s co-driver will have a lot more tasks than is the norm.
“Usually, I just look after the navigation, but here I also have to start the engine, work the indicators, the horn, the windscreen wipers,” Matthieu Bouthet said about his role in the 340 horsepower, V6 Nissan-powered buggy.
The vehicle is capable of reaching speeds of up to 150kph, but Croizon is not aiming to win the rally.
“The aim is not to go for a time. My dream is not to challenge Sebastien Loeb, but to cross the finishing line in Buenos Aires,” he said. “Seeing my dream through, not being one of the 51 percent who abandon, like last year.”
Croizon will need to get used to spending between 10 and 15 hours a day strapped into his buggy and he is giving himself eight months to prepare.
“As before every adventure, I’m not going lightheartedly. I’m undertaking a massive physical training program to prepare my arms, my glutes,” he said.
There is just one more step to take, though, before Croizon can be sure to take part.
He needs to raise 600,000 euros (US$683,000) and he is currently short by 200,000 euros.
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