Segway company owner dies riding two-wheeled machine off cliff

The Telegraph ^ | 10:37AM BST 27 Sep 2010 | No By Line

[tje]

Jimi Heselden, the owner of the Segway company, has died after riding one of the two-wheeled machines off a cliff and into a river.

The multi-millionaire businessman, 62, fell into the River Wharfe while inspecting the grounds of his North Yorkshire estate on a rugged country version of the Segway.

The Segway is a motorised scooter which use gyroscopes to remain upright and is controlled by the direction in which the rider leans.

[Mr. K]

The Segway was a work of Genius- the MARKETING was stupid stupid stupid....

when it came out it was $6000

it was only a rich persons toy.

They should have had a STARTING PRICE of $999.

The demand would have been through the roof, and this would have been major transportation in cities and small towns.

[N. Theknow]

Perhaps he rode the Segway too roughly.

Maybe he should have been more Ginger-ly in his operation of it.

[COBOL2Java]

Reprising "Thelma and Louise" minus two wheels?

[Manic_Episode]

[CASchack]

This sounds like the ending to Quadrophenia.

[NavyCanDo]

I remember when the news the Segway was weeks away. The super secret announcement was preceded by stories that they were about to come out with something that cost less than $6000 that every household would want to purchase. Rumors were flying about what it would be. I think there was a thread here on FR about the rumors.

What a flop it turned out to be. Nothing but a novelty item. I've seen only one since it came out.

[Hegewisch Dupa]

It was going to change the way cities were designed. Maybe in the sense they shouldn’t be built near drop-offs...

[philman_36]

I guess simply stepping off of the damned thing never occurred to him.

[philman_36]

It isn't satire.

[databoss]

Dean Kamen invented the segway...poor Jimi was a UK reseller?

[Trailerpark Badass]

What a flop it turned out to be. Nothing but a novelty item. I've seen only one since it came out.

Some kind of uniformed officers ride them around the Atlanta airport.

Despite the fact that it looks rather silly, I'd imagine it is a pretty efficient way to get around the airport quickly.

[Miles the Slasher]

The funeral procession will be led by an honor guard escort of mall cops.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Title speaks for itself ping.

[Oztrich Boy]

So simple a monkey can ride one

[wbill]

I've seen only one since it came out.

I was working in NYC after its release. Saw a number of them.

They were all being used for service-related jobs (think mailmen, etc) where the person riding it, wouldn't need to pay for it.

I suppose it made sense, but I think it was more just an expensive toy, likely paid for by taxpayers.

[martin_fierro]

Ecce Knumbknuts

[Howudoing]

Death by segway, how embarrassing...... Poor guy!

[The Raven]

>>You can’t make this stuff up...
I gave up trying to convince my wife I’d do well with a motorcycle and changed the argument to a Segway-—what could be safer, I said...it’s designed by a lib.

[SoldierDad]

Segued the wrong way perhaps???