Adventurer and Inspirational Bone Disease Campaigner Samuel Gibson

Samuel Gibson, an inspirational adventurer and brittle bone disease campaigner has died, aged 39, after suffering a ‘devastating’ head injury while competing in a half marathon, as reported in The Daily Mail.

The New Zealander had osteogenesis imperfecta, a rare condition which causes brittle bones and is thought to have fallen from his wheelchair when taking part in a half marathon on Saturday.

His family announced his passing in a statement on Monday.

“Samuel will be greatly missed by so many people; he touched so many lives and was an inspiration to us all.”

“Despite there being no cure for brittle bone disease, Mr Gibson had been campaigning to help those who suffer from it and raise awareness about the disease.”

“He had the wisdom and the experience and he was going to be a magnificent role model for the country. We’ve really lost a treasure,” said Ultramarathon runner Lisa Tamati, who had been training with him.

According to the New Zealand Herald his life of adventure and creativity was a declaration to the world that he was not disabled.

“I live in a world where nothing fits. I am three feet tall and wheelchair reliant but am anything but disabled,” he told the Herald earlier this month.

Hundreds of touching messages of support for his family have been posted on social media. Many of those commenting recalled him as an inspiration and a role model who died too soon, writes Leith Huffadine in The Daily Mail.

The father of two recently was a speaker at a TED Talk event in Auckland, New Zealand.
Article Source: Daily Mail, Leith Huffadine, May 16, 2016

Image Source: Twitter – Samuel P Gibson