Daring athlete

Press, 15 April 1978, Page 12

Daring athlete

By

BOB SCHUMACHER

Bill Flewellyn was a natural athlete, a versatile and active sportsman. He was killed recently following one of his favourite pursuits, kite flying.

The Christchurch-born “kiteman” plunged 30m to his death at the annual Toowoomba Show, Queensland, while giving a flying demonstration. He was 35, Flewellyn is survived by his wife and two children.

Flewellyn made his mark in rugby. He was the regular half-back in the St Andrew’s College first XV and, as a member of the Christchurch club, he won representative selection as he progressed through the grades. He was vice-captain of the Canterbury colts in 196162.

Later Flewellyn joined Albion and he played five games for Canterbury B in 1965. The next year, when Lyn Davis was elsewhere involved. Flewellyn made four appearances for Canterbury A.

While his rugby career was developing, Flewellyn was also becoming proficient in water ski-ing. He was regularly at the lakes and at Brooklands Lagoon perfecting the sport and was one of the first to ski barefoot in New Zealand. His main claim to fame was in the jump. He was the first man in New Zealand to soar over 100 ft from the ramp and wan the national title in 1963.

Kite flying and hang gliding then took his fancy. He set a world duration record for kite flying, remaining aloft for 903 minutes, in 1971. Flewellyn, who married an Australian water skiing champion, settled in South Australia permanently in 1968. His love of aerial sports took him all over the world, and he gave demonstrations and exhibitions, including a televised flight over Tokyo. He was unsuccessful in an attempt on the world height record for a kite flight two years ago.

The death of this fearless high flyer apparently occurred when a rope broke on his glider.