Southall crash: Family's tribute to 'super-fit' cyclist, 86, killed in lorry crash on his way to the gym

Darshan Singh Heer leaves five children and four grandchildren
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John Dunne @jhdunne14 November 2017

An 86-year-old cyclist died after a collision with a lorry on a ride to an outdoor gym, his family said today.

Darshan Singh Heer, a retired school teacher and author, cycled to Southall Park seven days a week for a one-hour workout.

His family said he never missed a session and was only 50 yards from his house when the collision happened at about 9am last Thursday.

Police are examining CCTV footage of the incident, which took place near the junction of St Joseph’s Drive and South Road in Southall.

Fatal crash: The cyclist was struck on South Road, Southall
@VisitSouthall

Mr Heer, who leaves five children and four grandchildren, worked as a teacher at Wendell Park primary school in Shepherd’s Bush for many years.

A multilingual writer and poet, he also ran a maths club at Beaconsfield primary school in Southall. His son Ajai Heer, 45, a Tube driver, said: “My father was amazingly fit, super-fit.

"Every day he had the same routine of riding the five minutes to the park to work out. He would do it rain or shine.

Police at the scene of the fatal collision in Southall
@VisitSouthall

“Someone phoned me and said my father had been in an accident. I ran there and was there within minutes. It was horrible to see my father like that with those injuries.

“He was a father and grandfather and would do anything for anyone in the family. I know everyone says it about their father but he was exceptional. We have had so many people come to pay their respects.

“He touched the lives of so many people. There are so many lorries in the road — too many I think.”

Mr Heer is the 10th cyclist known to have died on London’s roads this year.

The family, who are originally from India, have lived in their Southall home for more than 30 years.

Mr Heer’s daughter Hersh O’Brien, 49, a laboratory worker, said: “He was an amazing person. He was all about family. He always emphasised the importance of education to us.

“He was a very educated person who spoke various languages. When he came from India he already spoke good English. He helped those that came and didn’t, he had time for everyone.

"He was very special, not just to us but to everyone who knew him. We are devastated and want a full investigation.”

The driver of the lorry stopped at the scene and is assisting police. The Met’s serious collision investigation unit is investigating.

A police statement said: “An 86-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. There have been no arrests.”

The spokesman added: “The deceased was riding a bicycle — he was not a pedestrian pushing a bike as previously stated.”

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