At first it was just rumours. As always. In New Zealand newspaper reports, for example here and hereThe first report was about a man who died on a mountain bike tour near Queenstown, New Zealand. It was not yet clear who it was or what exactly had happened.
Rescue workers, who arrived by helicopter at 4.14pm local time (3.14am CET) to an inaccessible spot on the Ben Lomond Track, were said to have only been able to determine the death of a mountain biker who appeared to have been involved in an accident.
It is now a sad certainty: it was New Zealand freeride star Kelly McGarry who died on his mountain bike today, Monday 1 February 2016. The exact circumstances and cause of death are unclear, but McGarry apparently collapsed while riding.
"The toughest creature in the world" - Kelly McGarry is dead
"The toughest creature in the world", as the commentators called freeride star Kelly McGarry, after he had ridden seemingly without scratching two Monster crashes at the Rampage 2014, was only 33 years old. His bike sponsor YT Industries has since confirmed McGarry's death in a press release:
"The news from New Zealand reached us this morning. We are paralysed, shocked and very saddened to lose a member of our family. Kelly was an always cheerful, warm and relaxed guy who represented the feeling of mountain biking with every fibre of his body. Our condolences go out to his partner, his family and his friends. The mountain bike world has lost an extraordinary character. We are proud that Kelly spent the last year riding for the YT Family. It was an honour!"
We mourn the loss of a charismatic and particularly likeable member of the bike community. Our sympathy goes out to his family and friends.
Sebastian Brust
Editor
