Media Release on behalf of: Fu-Tsai Hsieh Father of Ming-Chih (The cyclist killed in the truck/cyclist accident in Hornby on Monday)

"I wish to express the thanks and appreciation of myself and my family to the many people of Christchurch and New Zealand who have helped and supported us since the tragic death of our beloved son, Ming-Chih who was killed while on a cycling holiday in your beautiful country.

"We arrived in Christchurch on Tuesday and have been given wonderful support and help by the New Zealand Police and Coronial Services Unit. Many local cyclists have also kindly called us offering us their support, help and sympathy. The Buddha's Light International Association South Island has been a great help and source of comfort. We are also very grateful to ACC who helped us with many of the issues arising out of the accident – what a great social support system New Zealand has.

"We are of course still very bewildered and shocked by our lovely son's death but we are also overwhelmed by a country of wonderful caring people who without knowing us at all have looked after us and cared for us since we arrived in your country.

"My son loved New Zealand and told us many good things about his holiday travels here. He was an electrical engineer who first visited New Zealand on holiday in January of this year, staying for just under three months in your beautiful country. He made a real connection with people from different parts of the country and loved it so much that he decided to return again recently to explore more of it, this time as a cyclist.

"He based himself with his bicycle in Christchurch and was amazed at how friendly people here were to him.

"He loved cycling – he had been a triathlon silver medallist in Taiwan – and was well known in triathlon competitions in our country.

"It is sad that it was as a cyclist that he has met his death in an accident with a large truck. My son loved your country. He felt very safe here exploring its lovely natural beauty and today I am heartbroken that he has gone.

"I hope that my son's accidental death will not have been in vain, and that his tragic accident will cause us all to consider others who travel together on the same road as us. And I hope that there will be one day a safer environment for cyclists to travel around New Zealand enjoying the wonderful things your country has to offer."

Source: New Zealand Police.