Fans to ride for stuntman
Hundreds in cars and on motorbikes to trace last journey
Fans of social media star Johnny Danger Bennett will salute him in style in a special memorial ride to the place he died this week. Hundreds of people on motorbikes and cars are expected to turn out to the event, organised just hours after news of the online personality’s death in a crash on Wednesday afternoon.
Almost 300 people indicated on the event’s Facebook page they would be coming out and over 500 people said they were interested.
Those taking part will follow Bennett’s last journey — meeting on Auckland’s Quay St before riding to Dairy Flat, to the scene of the crash.
The event comes as more details emerged of the Anzac Day crash, which brought Bennett’s friends rushing to the site after being told by those who had been following the star that there had been an accident.
The group left a petrol station on Quay St about 1pm. The plan was to ride over the Harbour Bridge to Albany and Riverhead, before ending the day at a bar in Ponsonby.
Mate Gareth Williams said: “[We] left Albany for the second half ride. Johnny and the group headed off and it was in this section Johnny had come off the road.
“From what myself and other riders there think, could be due to the loose gravel on the road, which I believed caused the accident.”
Williams said half the group, those ahead of Bennett, were unaware there had been a crash until they arrived in Riverhead.
“The ones behind Johnny didn’t see how the accident happened due to the corner”.
Williams said he and others arrived at the crash to find friends and family doing CPR on their mate.
He said they “did everything possible” to help Bennett.
Paramedics arrived shortly after and more efforts were made to save his life. Among the riders, shock started to set in, Williams said.
“Unfortunately, after the ambulance and other services arrived and worked on him, we had been informed he didn’t pull through.”
A day after the crash, fans visited the site. Some left flowers, another left a bottle of Danger Lager, while others stood silently before leaving.
Online tributes continued also, from fans all around the country and overseas as well as from a number of Kiwi celebrities.
Williams, who met Bennett last year, paid tribute to a man who had a huge heart for others.
In particular, he had dreams to help raise funds for those affected by mental health issues and cancer.
“He discussed . . . getting involved in raffling some things so he could give the profits to mental health and prostate cancer charities.”
Many of those taking part in Wednesday’s ride are linked with Wolfpack Inc, an organisation set up to help raise funds for mental health charities, which Bennett was also linked to.
Williams said many of the riders were still in shock about losing a mate.
“He achieved huge things and had so much love and things to give back. He will be deeply missed and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.”
Police are investigating the crash.