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Young Nanaimo BMX champion dies in fish farm accident

Mar 12, 2019 | 2:15 PM

NANAIMO — A promising, young Nanaimo BMX racer who represented Canada and won titles at home and abroad has died in a workplace accident in the waters off northeast Vancouver Island.

A post on the Nanaimo BMX Facebook page said Aidan Webber died Sunday.

“Nanaimo BMX lost one of our family members,” the post said. “Aidan was an amazing son, brother, rider and friend to many. He has been a constant figure racing around Nanaimo’s track and tracks all around the world. His friends come from far and wide. Aidan will be missed by all.”

The BC Coroners Service and WorkSafeBC confirm there was a death, but say privacy rules prevent them from naming the victim.

WorkSafeBC said the young worker died in an accident that involved a fish pen about 16 kilometres off Port Hardy.

Webber won Canada’s BMX championship for junior men, aged 17 and 18, last July and represented Canada at the World Championships in Colombia in 2016.

He is survived by his parents and siblings. The BMX group’s post said the family asked for time and space to process the loss and no plans for a service have been made.

The Canadian Press