Segway boss in scooter cliff death plunge

[Troy]

THE millionaire boss of the UK-owned company Segway died after he rode one of the firm's two-wheeled scooters over a cliff near his home in northern England, police confirmed last night.

James William Heselden, 62, from Thrope Arch, died about 11:40am local time when he rode one of the Segway scooters off a cliff and into the River Wharfe in West Yorkshire, northern England.

He was pronounced dead at the scene after his body was pulled from the water.

UK newspaper The Sun reported that Mr Heselden was riding a rugged country version of his famous two-wheeled Segway scooter near his home when the accident occurred.

The Segway firm's operation was recently acquired by a UK-based company backed by Mr Heselden, the newspaper reported.

Mr Heselden left school at 15 and worked as a coal miner before making his fortune with the defence equipment firm Hesco Bastion, which manufactures wire cage walls for protection on army bases.

His friend, Leon Parish, told The Sun: "It [the accident] happened while he was going around his property - it's devastating."

Wow, this story almost sounds to ridiculous to be true! How can you ride one of these things off a cliff? Wouldn't you just jump off it and surely it can't go that fast. Terrible way to die and it won't give his new company any good publicity.