The bereft family of a "perfectly healthy" man who had a heart attack while cycling are struggling to come to terms with his death. Michiel Jansen, 59, did not drink or smoke, lived off health food and thought nothing of cycling to Pukekohe from his home in Howick.
His wife of 35 years, Annelies, said last Sunday started like any other morning - but her life had been turned "upside down" before lunch.
"It was a nice day so he was riding out to my parents' place. He had his banana, kissed me on the forehead and said he'd be back in a few hours.
"I think of all the beer-swilling men with great big pot bellies ... we are shellshocked it was him."
Coincidentally, the couple's son, Timothy, was driving down Te Rakau Drive in Pakuranga and recognised his father's bike. He alerted his mother and his siblings, who were all with Jansen when he died.
