Fairwell James Heseldon, RIP

Philanthropist and inventor James Heseldon, owner of the company that makes the beloved geekmobile Segway, died in an accident on Sunday when he apparently drove his machine off a cliff on his estate in West Yorkshire, England. Although he didn’t invent the Segway, he certainly enjoyed the Segway (invented by Dean Kamen) but Heseldon had other innovations to his credit. According to PC World, Heselden was a miner and engineer that invented “a sort of Jersey Barrier for battlefields,” or a portable containment system made of a wire cage that could be filled with earth and sand, and used as a defense barrier to bullets, missiles, and suicide-bomber attacks.

The wire cage systems developed by Heseldon’s company Hesco Bastion became standard military equipment for Nato as well as American and British forces. James “Jimi” Heseldon was also heralded for his charity work, including the British veterans’ charity, Help for Heroes, and for donating millions to charity. Truly, Jimi is a man whose imagination created products that saved lives and his contribution in life clearly made a difference throughout the world. He will be greatly missed.

Heselden is survived by his wife, Julie, five children, and eight grandchildren.