Published: 14 July 2003
It is with great sadness that the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies announces today the tragic death of its informal goodwill ambassador, Gérard Starck, a French Red Cross volunteer who had been touring the world on his motorbike for the last six years drawing attention to our humanitarian mission.
Mr. Starck (57) died yesterday after his motorbike collided with a car in heavy rain as he made his way through south Kyrgyzstan en route to the Uzbekistan capital, Tashkent. His next of kin have been informed and arrangements are being made to have his body flown back to France.
At the time of his death, he had completed visits to 148 National Red Cross and Red Crescent societies around the world, clocking up some 200,000 kms on his distinctive motorbike. On each visit, he handed over a red ribbon and a gift from the previous National Society that he had visited.
Just days before his death, he met with the president of the Red Crescent Society of Kazakhstan, Dr. Erkebek Argymbaev, who said today: “He shared with us his tireless energy and unquenchable enthusiasm. He wanted to show the world the uniqueness of the Red Cross Red Crescent network that links together 179 national societies and he fulfilled his mission.”
Mr. Markku Niskala, the International Federation’s acting secretary general, said today: “We extend our heartfelt sympathy to his family and to colleagues in the French Red Cross on their loss. We are sorry that Gérard will not be with us as he had planned at the International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in November when he hoped to share with us his experiences and to meet up with many of the people he had met on his travels.”
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