Popular doctor found dead after biking accident

Popular Whanganui doctor Chris Cresswell whose body was found beside his mountainbike on Saturday. Wanganui Chronicle photograph by Bevan Conley.

The year has ended in shock with the sudden death of one of Whanganui's most well liked and respected doctors.

Chris Cresswell, acting head of Whanganui Hospital's emergency department, died while riding his mountainbike on Saturday.

Police attended the scene at Matipo Park, at about 4.30pm. Dr Cresswell was found lying lifeless beside his bike.

It appears he had fallen but the death will be referred to the Coroner before a full determination of the cause of death can be made.

Matipo Park is a recreational park reserve off Brunswick Rd and is available for walkers, horse riding and mountain biking.

All tracks are steep and can get slippery when wet. A sign at the park warns users to take extreme care.

Family friend Rochelle Bullock spoke to the Chronicle on the family's behalf.

"I saw him just before he went out for his ride. He was so looking forward to 2017 and celebrating the new year with friends. He was like a brother to me," Ms Bullock said.

"He was wearing his taonga, pounamu."

Dr Cresswell was passionate about equality, the environment and medicine.
Ms Bullock said Dr Cresswell was "well respected and loved amongst all people."

He worked alongside iwi and was prominent in advancing Maori health.

He was also politically active and a member of the Green Party. He was a major player in raising awareness of climate change, and publicly opposed and demonstrated against the Trans Pacific Partnership and seabed mining.

In September last year he climbed on top of local MP Chester Borrows' car during a protest against the TPP and in November helped organise a local march to encourage awareness of climate change issues.

Dr Cresswell was well known to Chronicle readers for which he wrote a regular column.

A police spokeswoman said the death was being treated as a sudden death and was not thought to be suspicious.

Funeral service details will be available after Wednesday, Ms Bullock said.

Dr Cresswell was the Whanganui branch president of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists.

Members were saddened by news of his death, said the association's executive director, Ian Powell.

"Dr Cresswell was a highly passionate and compassionate doctor, full of exuberance. While concern for the patients he treated was central to his work, he also saw the role of the doctor extending into broader issues, including the effects of environmental and trade policies on people's health and well-being.

"This involvement in broader issues also required courage, a personal quality he had an abundance of.

"Our thoughts are for his family and close friends at this sad and difficult time."