Unicyclist a ‘perfect dad’
A unicyclist who died after colliding with a truck on Saturday morning was a ‘‘perfect dad’’ who had cycled around the world, his grieving partner says.
Bruce Hall, 53, had hugged his partner Lindsay Wu and their young son before heading off on the morning ride in the Auckland suburb of Onehunga that would end tragically.
‘‘He left this morning perfectly happy,’’ Wu said, in tears, on Saturday night.
Hall had 15 years of one-wheel experience and had taken tours with multi-national unicycle crews across Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Nepal — among other countries.
Wu described Hall a ’’a perfect dad’’ to their seven-year-old boy and the love of her life.
‘‘Bruce was an adventurer,’’ said Wu. ‘‘But he was a very careful person, always reminding me to be safe. I don’t know how I’ll live without him.’’
‘‘Before he rode off, our son said ‘can I have a hug, Dad?’,’’ she said. ‘‘Then I asked for mine, he hugged me too, and walked out the door with a smile.’’
His accident with the truck happened just before 9.30am near the bustling Onehunga Mall, and Hall died at the scene. The Serious Crash Unit is investigating the accident.
Hall’s friend and fellow unicyclist Ken Looi remembered him as ‘‘determined to ride everything’’.