In The News

Yorkshire entrepreneur dies in accident

Yorkshire entrepreneur dies in accident

Jimi Heselden, who was one of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs, has died in an accident in Yorkshire. He was 62.

Mr. Heselden, OBE, set-up his own engineering company in the 1980s after being made redundant as a miner.

The Leeds-based firm, Hesco Bastion, became very successful in the manufacture of protective barriers which are used by the military and for flood protection.

In 2001 the company acquired the US firm behind the Seqway device — the two-wheeled transportation unit.

Mr. Heselden is reported to have died while testing a new version of the device on his estate. It is understood he fell into a river.

The businessman was a great supporter of the Help for Heroes charity and the Leeds Community Foundation. He had donated £10m to the Foundation in early September, 2010. This donation brought to £23m the total amount of money he had given to the charity.

 

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