Jimi Heselden, Owner Of Segway Inc., Dies In Segway Accident

Multi-millionaire Jimi Heselden, the owner of Segway Inc. since December 2009, has died after reportedly driving a Segway scooter off a cliff and into a river.

The fatal accident allegedly occurred at Heselden's West Yorkshire estate, according to the Daily Mail. He was "using one of the machines--which use gyroscopes to remain upright and are controlled by the direction in which the rider leans--to inspect the grounds of his property," writes the Daily Mail. "A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said today: 'Police were called at 11.40am yesterday to reports of a man in the River Wharfe, apparently having fallen from the cliffs above.'"

Police told the Telegraph that a "Segway-style vehicle" was recovered at the scene of the accident.

Hesco Bastion, the company of which Heselden was chairman, confirmed Heselden's death in a statement given to the BBC. "It is with great sadness that we have to confirm that Jimi Heselden OBE, has died in a tragic accident near his home in West Yorkshire," said the Hesco Bastion spokesperson.

Heselden was known for his generous philanthropy: he had donated over 23 million GBP to charitable causes over his lifetime.

According to the BBC, Heselden "worked as a miner before losing his job in a wave of redundancies in the 1980s. His engineering business went from strength-to-strength and he had a fortune reported to be [166 million GBP], making him one of the top 400 richest people in the UK."

Comments

[snallygaster]

07:04 PM on 09/30/2010

I know I'll probably get flamed for this, but I think it's awesome that this didn't just involve a Segway. It involved a Segway AND a cliff AND a river, elevating this from mere irony to sheer poetry. Bravo, sir. Bravo!

And might I say that my living will involves shooting my terminal body off into the Grand Canyon powered by rocket powered roller skates. Preferably wearing a chicken suit and maybe with a few sponsor logos on my cape. We've all got to go sometime, might as well have some fun in doing so. As the previous poster said - to die doing what we love to do. RIP sir.

[IBWatching]

03:34 AM on 09/30/2010

To go doing what you love to do...

RIP

[pinkladee]

01:18 AM on 09/30/2010

RIP

[ceez]

12:43 AM on 09/30/2010

RIP to the man and sorry to the family.

but this is so ironic, the owner dies riding on his segway, couldnt he brake, jump off it, did he lose control of it?!?! oh so many questions left unanswered.

segways....dont ride near cliffs.

[OdinsEye]

01:01 AM on 09/30/2010

From what I have read he was using a new or prototype AT model and it lost traction and slid, tossing him.

[macmuir]

11:51 PM on 09/29/2010

Segway to the afterlife.

[Wanderland]

10:03 PM on 09/29/2010

"According to the BBC, Heselden "worked as a miner before losing his job in a wave of redundancies in the 1980s. His engineering business went from strength-to-strength and he had a fortune reported to be..."
--------------------

A wave of redundancies? His business went from strength to strength? What the hell language are these people speaking?

[OdinsEye]

10:12 PM on 09/29/2010

Redundancies are basically layoffs.

[writersbloc]

11:37 PM on 09/29/2010

"strength-to-strength" is pretty ambiguous I have to agree. bloody idioms!

[OdinsEye]

09:20 PM on 09/29/2010

"Hesco Bastion, the company of which Heselden was chairman, confirmed Heselden's death "

Hesco barriers have been indespensible in Iraq and Afghanistan. Originally designed for emergency response to flooding as a faster method of placing barriers than sandbags, these barriers quickly found military use instead of sand bags for fortifying defensive positions and controlling movement. Probably one of the unsung heros of Iraq and Afghanistan and every bit as important as UAVs and armored Humvees. For more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hesco_bastion

[Way]

11:14 PM on 09/29/2010

The definition of irony: he could have easily used one invention he created to save him from driving off a cliff on another invention he bought.

[HoChi Minh One]

08:32 PM on 09/29/2010

Rest in peace mate.

[free2be2cool]

07:02 PM on 09/29/2010

This isn't a joke? Holy cannoli! It's like "The Onion" could have written this, or Doug Kenney falling into a volcano in Hawaii. Life is unbelievable.

[CarlIII]

04:07 PM on 09/29/2010

Segway SMegway..Where's the flying cars we thought we would have by the year 2000? If that noninventing owner of the Segway company had been in a flying car he would be alive today.

[spkatt]

04:06 PM on 09/29/2010

Homer Simpson did that same thing a few seasons ago when he was sent to the prison that was originally built to house The Springfield Symphony Orchestra.

[Blitzkrieg Barbie]

03:44 PM on 09/29/2010

I must admit, I chuckled at the irony and the imagery.
RIP.

[DebtNavigation]

02:22 PM on 09/29/2010

Near cliffs, you can get killed on powered or unpowered items, and you can also die when the ground gives way while you're walking. I hope nobody is blaming the machine.

[Tulka2]

07:24 PM on 09/29/2010

Good point.

[Way]

10:15 PM on 09/29/2010

Yeah, you'd think he'd put some sort of guardrail or other barrier along that area, especially if he's going to be riding around on the grounds. This was just an accident waiting to happen.

[Mark Sandelson]

01:39 PM on 09/29/2010

this must be the segway to the end of this story

[Ginger Rough]

01:14 PM on 09/29/2010

Boys and their toys.......