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Segway UK Boss Dies After Driving Off Cliff

necro81 writes "Jimi Heselden, the British multi-millionaire defense contractor and philanthropist, who bought the Segway company last December from inventor Dean Kamen, died yesterday after an accident while riding one of the machines. While using a ruggedized X2 version of the two-wheeled balancing scooter at his estate in North Yorkshire, he apparently drove over the edge of a precipice and into the River Wharfe. He was found later by a passerby and declared dead on the scene."

8 of 413 comments (clear)

  1. Man. by Pojut · · Score: 2, Interesting

    ...what a way to go out. Fitting, but jeebus...

  2. First death? by Paradise+Pete · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Is this the first confirmed death while operating a Segway?

  3. Re:That sucks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Furthermore, how is he relevant? Noone here probably knew who he was beforehand. And in a few days, noone here will remember who he was.

    I mean, yeah. That sucks. He died. I'm sure it's a tragedy to the people close to him. In the same regard, I saw a 2 car pileup on my way to work this morning. I'm sure that someone died in that wreck.

    I'd argue that the single mother who just lost her primary bread winner is a bigger tragedy than a dying venture capitalist.

  4. Re:Alas poor segway, I knew him not so well by Rogerborg · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Bingo. Remember, the claim was that it would "change the way we design cities". Which was another way of saying: "shit-all use for the cities that we have now".

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  5. Re:inb4 people making jokes of this by 19thNervousBreakdown · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Hell yes. In my book, insincere condolences are far worse than literally dancing on someone's grave. At least you know how they feel.

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  6. Re:inb4 people making jokes of this by __aanonl8035 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    (quote) Personally I find it just as distasteful to make insincere public expressions of sorrow over something that actually doesn't affect you at all because "it's what you're supposed to do" (/quote)

    Perhaps a lot of people are merely working off pre-programmed social norms, like saying "how are you doing?", but speaking only for myself here; as I have grown older and experienced some tragic moments, I genuinely have empathy for others, who have to go through some of the obstacles and misfortunes of life. I also suspect that there are a lot of other human beings who think this way as well.

  7. Re:Inventor: yes/no. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    He said DK didn't invent the segway - that he merely fronted money and marketing for it. He said DK did invent the insulin pump.

  8. Re:Not the inventor by yyxx · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Whether it's a gun that kills more people or a barrier that allows troops to advance safely to where they can kill more people really amounts to the same thing.