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OMG: BBC Reports Segway company owner dies riding two-wheeled machine off cliff

I was stunned to hear that Jim Heselden had been killed while riding his Segway.  Heselden was one of the early adapters in Europe and a real believer that the Segway transporter could transform the way people travel short distances.

Heselden purchased the company from Dean Kamen and a group of investors late last year and was continuing efforts to introduce the machine to the general public.

Heselden was riding a Segway X2, an off-road version of the machine.  The X2 has knobby tires and is higher off the ground than the standard model.  I’ve got hundreds of miles on the machines and the X2-model was always my favorite.

My condolences go out to Heselden’s family and those involved with Segway.  It is a marvelous machine, but perhaps, years ahead of its time.  Here’s the story from BBC.

A Segway being used in London

A Segway being used in London Photo: Alex Segre/Alamy
Jimi Heselden, the owner of the Segway company, has died after riding one of the two-wheeled machines off a cliff and into a river.

The multi-millionaire businessman, 62, fell into the River Wharfe while inspecting the grounds of his North Yorkshire estate on a rugged country version of the Segway.

The Segway is a motorised scooter which use gyroscopes to remain upright and is controlled by the direction in which the rider leans.  A company controlled by Heselden purchased Segway LLC from Dean Kamen and investors in December 2010.

A passer-by found Heselden alongside his Segway in the Boston Spa area at about 11.40am on Sunday.

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.

“A Segway-style vehicle was recovered. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

“At this time we do not believe the death to be suspicious.”

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