The sportive ride ended in tragedy when Dubliner Gerry Tobin sadly passed away after collapsing off his bike. His son has paid tribute to a wonderful father, husband and friend.
Cyclist Gerry Tobin died on sportive for charity
A cyclist who died suddenly in Co Clare last weekend has been named as Gerry Tobin, from Raheny in Dublin.
He was riding a sportive with his wife and son when he took ill and collapsed. Gerry (50s) sadly died at the roadside despite efforts to revive him.
He was riding the Tour de Gaggs; an annual sportive held to commemorate a family friend who himself died suddenly in 2009.
His son Mark, who was on the event with his father, confirmed his death on social media and paid tribute to him.
“Friends, it is with a broken heart that we're sharing the news that our Dad passed away suddenly at the weekend,” he said.
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“The support we've had has been nothing short of amazing.”
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“Dad, Mam and I were taking part in the Tour de Gaggs. After 170km of Day 1, it seems he took a heart attack and died pretty instantly.
“Our friends were with him less than a minute after he came off the bike and heroically tried to save him.
“Gerry died doing something he loved, surrounded by people he loved. We know we'll struggle without him.
“But we'll do our best to celebrate him in the way he deserves. He was a wonderful father, an amazing husband and a great friend to everyone he knew.”
Gerry was riding as part of a group near Gort when he collapsed. The others he had been with realised he was no longer in the group.
They stopped and backtracked before finding him at the side of the road. He was in an unresponsive state.
Fundraising for cause continues
The location of the incident was about 2km from Crusheen. Gardai and an ambulance crew were called out but sadly to no avail.
The Tour de Gaggs has been run for the past five years. The riders aim to raise awareness and vitally needed funds for Epilepsy Ireland.
And since Gerry Tobin’s sad passing at the weekend, his family have asked people to contribute to the cause. You can get more information by following this link.
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