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Canadian BMX champion Aidan Webber dies in work place accident

Men's junior champion from 2016 and 2018 died working off the northeast of Vancouver Island

March 12, 2019
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Aidan Webber, the 17-year-old Canadian national junior men’s BMX champion from Nainamo, B.C., has tragically died in a workplace accident. Webber had represented Canada at the BMX world championships in Colombia in 2016, and had won Canadian national titles in 2018 and 2016. In 2017, he was the recipient of the Steve Smith Memorial Award for achievement in extreme sports.

“Yesterday, Nanaimo BMX lost one of our family members. It is with sadness and regret that we say goodbye to Aidan Webber,” a post from the Nanaimo BMX Association read on Facebook. “Aidan tragically lost his life yesterday in a work accident.”

WorkSafe B.C. and the BC Coroners Service confirmed a young worker lost their life but for privacy reasons were unable to name the victim. According to a statement to WorkSafe B.C. to the Naimono Bulletin, the accident happened 16 km off the coast from Port Hardy in the waters off northeast Vancouver Island and involved a fish pen. A full report is expected after the investigation concludes.

“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,” continued the Nanaimo BMX Association statement.

He was a promising young athlete in Cycling Canada’s BMX program. Webber had won titles in Canada and competed wearing the maple leaf abroad including at the world championships. He had placed fifth on the U.S. national series. In his last year as a junior, he won the national after a season interrupted by injury.

“Winning the national champion’s jersey really shows all the hard work I’ve put in because I was injured last year and missed out on national champs, so getting it in my last year as a junior really means a lot to me,” Webber had said after winning the national title in Drummondville, Que. last July. “It’s a huge confidence booster.”