Gavin died doing a sport he loved, says partner of road tragedy cyclist
THE partner of a father-of-two killed after a car collided with a group of cyclists said he died doing the “sport he loved”.
Gavin Moore died in the Royal Victoria Hospital after he and three other cyclists were involved in the collision with a car near Conlig on Tuesday afternoon.
He was cycling as part of the North Down Cycling Club when the crash happened.
Club member Gareth Boyle remained in a critical condition yesterday at the Royal Victoria Hospital while another, Keith Freel, was released from hospital after suffering concussion.
A fourth rider, Rachy Sinnamon, who was also involved but walked away with no injuries, provided comfort to Gavin at the scene before he was taken away by emergency services.
Gavin’s partner, Joanne Ryans, took to social media hours after his death.
Responding to an online tribute to her partner, she said: “Taken too soon, a sport he loved.”
On Tuesday, broken bikes lay strewn on the road at the scene on the dual carriageway near Conlig after a white Hyundai 4x4 collided with the group at around 1.50pm as they made their way to Bangor.
A 59 year-old man arrested at the scene has since been released on police bail.
Hundreds of tributes to the popular Bangor man were posted on social media. The dad-of-two was a coach at the Castle Juniors Football Club where his son Luke plays.
A spokesman for the football club said they were “heartbroken and devastated beyond words”.
“Whilst Gavin was a coach at the club, he was also a good friend to many of us and adored by the boys in the 2001 year group in which his son, Luke, plays as a goalkeeper,” he said on their Facebook page.
“Gavin put so much into the club, as he did with everything he was involved in, and we are all heartbroken and devastated beyond words.
“We would also like to acknowledge Gavin’s passion for cycling and his active role within the NDCC — our sincere sympathies and condolences to you also at the NDCC on the loss of your sporting colleague and club member. We sincerely hope your other club members involved in this incident make a full and speedy recovery.”
Hours after the tragedy, North Down Cycling Club cancelled an event.
Cycling clubs across Northern Ireland also sent their sympathies to the keen cyclist’s family and friends. Cycling Ulster Masters League said: “It’s not easy sharing the roads and we hope that the incident is fully investigated to help mitigate further unnecessary tragedies, accidents and loss of life.”
A local restaurant also paid tribute to the amateur cyclist.
“Harrisons of Greyabbey would like to pass on our condolences to the family of Gavin Moore and North Down Cycling Club following the awful accident. Our staff have fond memories of Gavin and he was here this past Saturday,” they said.
“We are praying for Gareth Boyle and Keith Freel that they both make speedy and full recoveries.”