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Freeride legend Kelly McGarry passes away during a ride in New Zeland

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Sad news from Queenstown today as it was reported Kelly McGarry, the 6’5″ larger than life free-rider from NZ who in 2013 took second place and the Viewer’s Choice Award at the Redbull Rampage passed away earlier this morning while riding in Queenstown. No details on what happened, but our thoughts are with his friends, family and loved ones.

Backflip past the gap for the local newspaper report and Kelly’s insane run from the 2013 Redbull Rampage.

video c. of Redbull.com

From the Otago Daily Times:

A man has died while mountain biking in Queenstown.

Queenstown emergency services were called to the mountain bike crash on the Ben Lomond Track above Queenstown at 4.14pm. Police said the call was to a report of a male having fallen from his bike and requiring urgent medical assistance.

St John Central Lakes territory manager Kelvin Perriman confirmed a man had died.

“It looks like it’s been a medical event.

“We’ve flown two paramedics from Queenstown up there. It is apparently at the back of the Ben Lomond track – it is a fairly remote area only accessed by helicopter. We believe its a gentleman in his late 30s declared deceased at the scene.”

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Scott
Scott
8 years ago

That canyon flip gave me chills… Again! What a loss for this sport.

Myke
Myke
8 years ago

That is really sad news… RIP

xcrdr
xcrdr
8 years ago

I thought he had a winning run. Should have been a Rampage winner. Good guy doing what he loved.

JoRivz
JoRivz
8 years ago

Heartbreaking.

Charlie Best
Charlie Best
8 years ago

“If you want the ultimate, you’ve got to be willing to pay the ultimate price. It’s not tragic to die doing what you love.”

R.I.P.

epicthroatbeard
epicthroatbeard
8 years ago

i believe that it was a heart attack.Collapsed while riding in a remote
location.

skip
skip
8 years ago

rampage participants are dropping like underwater welders….
what do they say? if you live five years past when you start you’re on the upside of the transaction?

Scott
8 years ago

In the always entertaining world of freeride mountain biking, Kelly managed to take the entertainment quotient up a notch. R.I.P. McGazza.

Allan
Allan
8 years ago

Story says “medical event”, so it looks like it wasn’t during any kind of dangerous stunt. Extremely sad, but scary, because there seem to be more of these stories of athletes dropping dead in the middle of participating in sporting events.

LMStuff
LMStuff
8 years ago

His smile said it all for me in the Rampage video! Died doing what he loved, no matter what the cause! My condolences to his friends and family. R.I.P.!

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