Segway millionaire Jimi Heselden died from a fall - police

Mr Heselden, 62, was out riding a two-wheeled electric Segway scooter which plunged off a 30ft cliff into a river.

The father-of-five, who gave 23m of his fortune to charity, owned the company which makes the Segway scooters.

Police today appealed for information about the events leading up to his death on Sunday morning.

He was wearing black trousers, black shoes, a light blue shirt and a white sports jacket as he rode the scooter along a path next to the River Wharfe at Boston Spa, near Wetherby.

A police spokesman said: "He is thought to have been using a black and silver Segway type vehicle on an elevated path that runs alongside the River Wharfe and was travelling in the direction of Leys Lane from Boston Spa between 11am - 11.30am."

Anyone who saw Mr Heselden is asked to contact Sergeant Carl Quinn at the Major Collision Enquiry Team on 01924 293047 or via: 0845 60 60 606.

A post mortem carried out yesterday revealed that Mr Heselden died from injuries consistent with a fall.

Members of Mr Heseldan's family, many of whom paid an emotional visit to the scene of the accident, described their grief at his death.

A family spokesman said: "Our family has been left devastated by the sudden and tragic loss of a much-loved father and husband.

"While we have been touched by the many kind tributes to his life and career, some of the speculation as to cause of his death has been deeply upsetting. There is absolutely nothing to suggest it was anything other than a tragic accident.

"The exact circumstances of the accident are still being clarified and will, of course, be the subject of an inquest.

"We would once again like to thank Jimi's many friends and colleagues for their help and condolences at this very distressing time for the family."

Mr Heselden made his fortune when his Leeds-based firm Hesco Bastion developed the "blast wall" basket, which protect soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq, as a replacement for traditional sandbags.

The former miner, who left school when he was 15, was known as much for his charity giving as he was for his massive fortune and tributes have poured in for him from various sectors.

The Leeds Community Foundation said he had donated 23 million to causes in his home city since 2008.

He was also closely linked to the Help For Heroes charity, which supports injured military personnel.

Mr Heselden was also applauded for bringing hundreds of jobs to the Leeds area with the revolutionary protection baskets made by his firm, Hesco Bastion, since 1990.

The "concertainer" units have been used to protect soldiers in every major conflict since the first Gulf War and is seen as one of the UK's most successful defence exports.

They are also used for a range of non-military functions including flood management and erosion control.

Mr Heselden struck the deal to buy Segway in December last year. The firm was started by inventor Dean Kamen in 1999 after he developed the electric two-wheeled, self-balancing vehicle.

The Leeds tycoon had a fortune reported to be 166 million, making him one of the 400 richest people in the UK.

Tycoon who gave away 23m killed in scooter cliff plunge

The last interview with Mr Heselden