British Olympic medallist high jumper Germaine Mason dies in bike crash in Jamaica
By Mark Ashenden
Last Updated: 20/04/17 4:25pm
British Olympic medallist Germaine Mason has died after a motorcycle crash in Jamaica.
The Office of the Commissioner of Police confirmed to Sky Sports News HQ that the retired high jumper died on Thursday morning (local time) at 4.20am in a motorbike accident.
Newspaper The Jamaica Gleaner reported the 34-year-old was heading to Kingston when he "lost control of the motor bike and crashed".
It was also reported that immediately after the incident, several athletes, including World and Olympic champion Usain Bolt, and Michael Frater, arrived on the scene.
The crash happened on the Florizel Boulevard in Port Royal and he lost control of the vehicle. He was taken to hospital but died.
Former GB sprinter Linford Christie tweeted: "Heart goes out to friends and family of Germaine Mason on this sad day.. R I P Germaine . Never forgotten"
James Ellington, the GB sprinter involved in a motorbike crash in Tenerife in January, added on Twitter: "Can't believe the news I have just heard about germaine mason. R.i.P Germaine, life is delicate. Go hard and enjoy every day like it's your last, because you can go at anytime, trust me I nearly did."
Jamiaca's Prime Minister Andrew Holness tweeted: "Our sincere condolences to the entire sporting fraternity."
Mason, who won a junior world bronze for Jamaica in 2002, was born in Kingston, emigrated to the UK and was eligible to represent Great Britain because his father David was born in London.
His mother persuaded him to switch allegiance, which was ratified by athletics' governing body, the IAAF, in 2006. He grabbed the headlines two years later at the Chinese Olympics when he won a surprise silver behind Russia's Andrei Silnov.
He is also Jamaica's national record holder in the high jump event.
