“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,” reported the Otago Daily Times.
St John Central Lakes territory manager Kelvin Perriman later confirmed McGarry died.
“We’ve flown two paramedics from Queenstown up there. It is a fairly remote area only accessed by helicopter,” said Perriman to the Otago Daily Times.
The New Zealander grew up in Nelson, where riding BMX and racing motocross started his two-wheeled obsession, however his height – 6’5″ – soon brought him to mountain biking. McGazza was ranked 9th in the world on the FMB World Tour in 2013 and claimed 2nd place in the 2013 Redbull Rampage, flipping the 72ft canyon gap.
Kelly McGarry will be sorely missed by the whole cycling community. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends.
