Tycoon who gave away £23m killed in scooter cliff plunge

Jimi Heselden, a former miner turned wealthy entrepreneur who owned the Segway company, was found in the river Wharfe at Boston Spa, near Wetherby, not far from his home in Thorp Arch.

Police said there were no suspicious circumstances and Mr Heselden had died at the scene.

A Segway, believed to be an off-road version of the electric scooter, was found close by.

It is understood a member of the public saw him riding the Segway and was watching as both he and the machine toppled over the edge of Jackdaw Crag, which has a sheer drop of up to 40ft.

A police spokesman said 62-year-old Mr Heselden was pulled from the river near to Leys Lane at about 11.40am on Sunday. He was pronounced dead by paramedics.

Leeds-born Mr Heselden, who leaves a wife, Julie, and five children, was described last night as a hard working and generous man, as well as a loving father and husband.

A family spokesman said his death appeared to be a "tragic accident".

He 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 the 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 protects soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq, as a replacement for traditional sandbags.

Last year he led a British team which bought the US-based Segway firm, which makes and distributes the distinctive two-wheeled, self-balancing scooters.

He was also well known for his philanthropy after giving 23m to charity.

Civic leaders in Leeds led the tributes to Mr Heselden.

Wetherby councillor John Procter, who knew him well, said: "Jimi was simply a fantastic man. Both genuine and honest in equal measure, Jimi's passion for the city and particularly East Leeds, was infectious.

"Jimi's experiences growing up in Halton Moor and working as a miner shaped him. He never forgot where he had come from and dedicated his time, energy and wealth into helping those less fortunate than himself through the Leeds Community Foundation.

"Jimi's passing is a massive loss to the city but his legacy as one of the country's most generous philanthropists is a fitting tribute to such a big hearted man."

Chief executive of Leeds Council Tom Riordan said: "Jimi was an amazing man who apart from being a wonderful success story for Leeds due to his business acumen was also remarkably selfless and generous giving millions to local charities to help people in his home city."

Sally-Anne Greenfield, of Leeds Community Foundation, which benefited from his generosity, described him as "an amazing, down-to-earth guy".

FORTUNE FROM A DEFENCE WALL

Jimi Heselden attended Osmondthorpe School in Leeds, left at 15 and worked down the mines and as a labourer.

In the early 1990s, after setting up in business with a friend, his Concertainer invention caught the attention of the Ministry of Defence. When his product was tested against mortar attack it proved so resilient the MoD ordered about 10km of the baskets.

A typical wall of Hesco Concertainer units – equivalent to about 1,500 sandbags – can be put up by two people and a front loader in 20 minutes. A similar sandbag construction would take 10 men seven hours to put up.

His company, Hesco Bastion, now has four sites in Leeds, all of them on Cross Green Industrial Estate.

Mr Heselden, who was 62, donated 23m of his fortune to the Leeds Community Foundation and gave 50,000 a year to three hospices in Leeds, Wheatfields, St Gemma's and Martin House. He was also a keen supporter of good causes relating to the

armed forces, his biggest customer.

The Hesco Bastion Fund was set up with a single donation from Mr Heselden of 10m and was topped up in January last year with a further 3m. In June this year he gave another 10m, taking the combined value of the fund to 23m.

He leaves a wife, Julie, and five children.