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| US daredevil Evel Knievel dies | US daredevil Evel Knievel dies |
| (3 days later) | |
| Legendary US daredevil Evel Knievel has died at the age of 69, his granddaughter has said. | Legendary US daredevil Evel Knievel has died at the age of 69, his granddaughter has said. |
| Knievel had suffered ill-health, including diabetes and pulmonary fibrosis - an incurable lung condition - for several years. | Knievel had suffered ill-health, including diabetes and pulmonary fibrosis - an incurable lung condition - for several years. |
| He underwent a liver transplant, after nearly dying of hepatitis C, in 1999. | He underwent a liver transplant, after nearly dying of hepatitis C, in 1999. |
| Knievel gained cult status performing death-defying stunts in the 1960s and 70s, including an attempted motorcycle jump over Snake River Canyon in Idaho. | Knievel gained cult status performing death-defying stunts in the 1960s and 70s, including an attempted motorcycle jump over Snake River Canyon in Idaho. |
| Rocket-powered bike | Rocket-powered bike |
| HAVE YOUR SAY He was such a mythical and iconic figure that later on, as a teenager, I had to be convinced he wasn't some made-up figure from a distant childhood memory. Marc Starr, Manchester In pictures: Evel Knievel class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=3882&edition=1">Send us your comments | |
| He regularly drew huge crowds when he attempted to jump over rows of parked vehicles with his motorbike. | He regularly drew huge crowds when he attempted to jump over rows of parked vehicles with his motorbike. |
| "They started out watching me bust my ass, and I became part of their lives," Knievel once said. | "They started out watching me bust my ass, and I became part of their lives," Knievel once said. |
| Bubba Blackwell, a fellow motorcycle show jumper, paid tribute to Knievel. | Bubba Blackwell, a fellow motorcycle show jumper, paid tribute to Knievel. |
| "What a showman - that was the part I liked about him the most. Anyone [who] can ride a motorcycle and do tricks - and they usually come off - is pretty much a fool," Mr Blackwell told the BBC's World Today programme. | "What a showman - that was the part I liked about him the most. Anyone [who] can ride a motorcycle and do tricks - and they usually come off - is pretty much a fool," Mr Blackwell told the BBC's World Today programme. |
| "He somehow figured out how to get the public's attention, and put on quite a show, and you just couldn't take your eyes off the guy." | "He somehow figured out how to get the public's attention, and put on quite a show, and you just couldn't take your eyes off the guy." |
| His friend Doug Malewicki told BBC News 24: "You know he was an interesting character. He really made something out of himself. | His friend Doug Malewicki told BBC News 24: "You know he was an interesting character. He really made something out of himself. |
| "You know he wasn't Mother Theresa, he made things happen and, you know, pushed to make whatever his dreams were. | "You know he wasn't Mother Theresa, he made things happen and, you know, pushed to make whatever his dreams were. |
| "The first time I met him he was in the hospital because he'd crashed in practice and broke a bunch of things but he would do. | "The first time I met him he was in the hospital because he'd crashed in practice and broke a bunch of things but he would do. |
| "Statistically he'd probably make 50 jumps before he'd crash and make a mistake." | "Statistically he'd probably make 50 jumps before he'd crash and make a mistake." |
| In one famous incident in 1968, he attempted to jump over the fountains at the Caesars Palace casino in Las Vegas. | In one famous incident in 1968, he attempted to jump over the fountains at the Caesars Palace casino in Las Vegas. |
| The resulting crash put him in a coma for 29 days, but brought him a large amount of publicity. | The resulting crash put him in a coma for 29 days, but brought him a large amount of publicity. |
| His 1974 attempt to cross the Snake River Canyon in Idaho on a rocket-powered bike also failed, when a parachute opened prematurely and he fell into the river. | His 1974 attempt to cross the Snake River Canyon in Idaho on a rocket-powered bike also failed, when a parachute opened prematurely and he fell into the river. |
| By the time he retired in 1980 Knievel had broken nearly 40 bones. | By the time he retired in 1980 Knievel had broken nearly 40 bones. |
| Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond spent a week with Knievel during the summer to make a TV documentary about him. | Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond spent a week with Knievel during the summer to make a TV documentary about him. |
| "He wasn't a well man but he was strong," Hammond told BBC Five Live. | "He wasn't a well man but he was strong," Hammond told BBC Five Live. |
| "And the more time you spent with him - he was just coming up to 70 and physically in a very bad way - he was still difficult and demanding and angry at times. That was great because he was fighting - that's what he did." | "And the more time you spent with him - he was just coming up to 70 and physically in a very bad way - he was still difficult and demanding and angry at times. That was great because he was fighting - that's what he did." |