Prudential Ride London 2018: 'Fit and healthy' grandfather-of-six collapses and dies near 60-mile mark

Tributes were today paid to a “fit and healthy” grandfather who died during the Prudential Ride London cycling event.

Nigel Swanson, a grandfather-of-six and father of three, collapsed near to the 60 mile mark in Leith Hill, Surrey, where he was treated by paramedics.

He suffered a cardiac arrest on Ockley Road and fellow cyclists competing in the event rushed to help him.

Nigel Buchan-Swanson died in yesterday’s Prudential RideLondon
Carey Tonkin

His wife Deborah said: “Nigel was a much loved husband, father and grandfather. He was a very experienced cyclist and died doing something he loved.”

His devastated daughter Carey Tonkin, who lives in South Africa, told the Standard: “It was so unexpected. He was fit and healthy.

"I don’t have any words now.

“I am heartbroken and this came as such a shock. He lived in England for many years and was planning on visiting home next year for his 70th."

RideLondon: the annual cycling festival saw riders take on a 100-mile route around London and Surrey
PA

Mrs Tonkin said her 69-year-old father was a keen cyclist.

A spokeswoman for the event said in a statement: "We sadly confirm the death of a participant in the 2018 Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100.

"Everyone involved in Prudential RideLondon would like to express our sincere condolences to Nigel’s family and friends."

A fundraising page has been set up for the family of Mr Swanson.

The page was set up by Charlotte Henderson, who was also taking part in the event and saw paramedics trying to resuscitate him.

She said: "It was at the bottom of Leith Hill when I cycled past. They were trying to resuscitate him.

"It could have been any one of us and I just wanted to help."

Ms Henderson is aiming to raise £2,000 for Mr Swanson’s family. Mr Swanson was competing in the event to raise money for the Macmillan charity.

Prudential RideLondon, now in its sixth year, describes itself as “the world’s greatest festival of cycling”. More than 100,000 cyclists were expected to take part during the two-day event over the weekend.

Yesterday’s 100-mile ride started at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, followed a route through Surrey and ended at The Mall in central London.

Cyclists could also take part in shorter rides of 46 and 19 miles.

Donate to Ms Henderson’s Crowdfunding page here or Mr Swanson's Macmillan page here.

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