Exhausted in the Mafate cirque, a competitor in the Diagonale des Fous was able to walk back to the exit thanks to an exoskeleton, a first for mountain rescue.
An unprecedented rescue operation marked the Diagonale des Fous, the grand raid race that crosses the island of La Réunion. A runner, completely exhausted and isolated in the Mafate cirque, was taken in charge by gendarmes and two doctors before regaining the use of his legs thanks to an exoskeleton, a robotic device designed to support muscular effort.
The competitor was located in a remote sector, where access is limited and conventional evacuation means are not always practicable. His condition no longer allowed him to progress without assistance. Rescuers therefore called on this equipment, which enabled the trailer to walk again and leave the cirque in the direction of an accessible point.
According to information reported by the regional press, this is a first in the field of mountain rescue linked to grand raids. The use of an exoskeleton to extract an athlete stranded on difficult terrain represents a new approach, one that demands a particular expertise from rescue teams.
This type of intervention highlights the challenges specific to ultra-long events, where the management of effort, dehydration and fatigue can quickly become critical. The relief of Mafate, accessible only on foot or by helicopter, further complicates rescue operations.
The event also illustrates the evolution of the resources deployed to secure runners on demanding courses. For the rescuers, the experience gained could serve as a reference for future similar interventions.
The competitor was located in a remote sector, where access is limited and conventional evacuation means are not always practicable. His condition no longer allowed him to progress without assistance. Rescuers therefore called on this equipment, which enabled the trailer to walk again and leave the cirque in the direction of an accessible point.
According to information reported by the regional press, this is a first in the field of mountain rescue linked to grand raids. The use of an exoskeleton to extract an athlete stranded on difficult terrain represents a new approach, one that demands a particular expertise from rescue teams.
This type of intervention highlights the challenges specific to ultra-long events, where the management of effort, dehydration and fatigue can quickly become critical. The relief of Mafate, accessible only on foot or by helicopter, further complicates rescue operations.
The event also illustrates the evolution of the resources deployed to secure runners on demanding courses. For the rescuers, the experience gained could serve as a reference for future similar interventions.
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Source: Ouest-France