Charity Cyclist Killed In Crash

9 July 2010, 13:03 | Updated: 9 July 2010, 13:18

A cyclist was killed while riding from John O' Groats to Land's End to raise funds for wounded members of the armed forces, police said today.


Arthur Platt, 37, from Lyndhurst, Hampshire, died of his injuries in hospital on Tuesday after his bicycle crashed into a car on the A442 in Telford, Shropshire. West Mercia Police confirmed that Mr Platt was travelling alone when he was killed and that he was undertaking a sponsored ride to raise money for Help for Heroes.

The leisure centre shift manager, who was born with a spinal condition, chose to aid Help for Heroes because ill-health once prevented him from joining the Army. New Forest District Council said Totton Health and Leisure Centre, where Mr Platt worked, was closed yesterday as a mark of respect.

Paying tribute to the cyclist, the council's head of leisure, Bob Millard, said: "I've known Arthur for many years, firstly as a very committed rugby player and for the last nine years as a loyal and dedicated member of our leisure team. "Arthur put total effort into everything he did and this was no better demonstrated than by his charity bike ride."He was very popular with both his colleagues and customers, who are all totally shocked by his sudden and untimely death. "Our thoughts are with his wife and family. He will be sorely missed.''