The police officer who died after losing control of his motorcycle and crashing was taking part in a memorial ride in honor of a close friend and colleague.
Gold Coast Senior Sergeant Brendan Wiblen, 58, died on Wednesday afternoon during the first leg of the Wall to Wall Ride for Remembrance.
Emergency services were called to the Gwydir Highway near Glen Innes in the Northern Highlands of New South Wales. Sgt Wiblen crashed and fell down an embankment.
Fellow drivers and bystanders tried to resuscitate him before emergency services arrived, but were unable to revive him.
Senior Sergeant Wiblen was one of hundreds of riders who took part in the annual event honouring police officers killed in the line of duty. The ride started a few hours earlier in Brisbane.
It later emerged that he had taken part in the march several times in memory of a murdered fellow Gold Coast police officer.
Detective Chief Inspector Damian Leeding, 35, was shot in the face at close range at the Pacific Pines Tavern during a botched armed robbery in May 2011.
Three days later, the father of two died in hospital.
Gold Coast officer Brendan Wiblen (pictured) died on Wednesday during the Wall 2 Wall Ride for Remembrance near Glen Innes in the Northern Highlands of NSW
He took part in the ride in memory of his murdered colleague Detective Senior Constable Damian Leeding (pictured with his wife Sonya)
The death of Sergeant Wiblen has prompted an outpouring of tributes from the police community.
The Wall to Wall Ride for Remembrance will continue to its conclusion in Canberra with the blessing of Senior Sergeant Wiblen’s family.
“Brendan has completed the Wall to Wall ride several times over the years and we are incredibly sad that he is no longer with us,” Queensland Police Union president Shane Prior told reporters on Wednesday.
‘Brendan completed this ride for his mate (murdered police officer) Damian Leeding who was killed in the line of duty.
“Brendan was a man of integrity. He was a loyal man and a man who was highly respected by his colleagues on the Gold Coast. I know he will be greatly missed.
Sergeant Wiblen served with the Gold Coast Police for almost thirty years.
He is also known as a former police union leader who was loyal to his members.
Senior Sergeant Wiblen regularly appeared on Australian television screens to provide updates on incidents in the Gold Coast area (pictured)
The tragic death of Senior Sergeant Wiblen comes 13 years after the murder of his colleague Damien Leeding (pictured)
Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said Sgt Wiblen’s death was a devastating loss to the police force.
“The service stands in solidarity with Brendan’s family, friends and colleagues and offers support during this time of grief,” he said.
“It is absolutely devastating that Brendan lost his life at an event honoring our fallen service members.
“This is a heartbreaking loss for our entire service, and especially for Brendan’s colleagues on the Gold Coast who worked closely with him day in, day out.
“His passing will have a profound impact on the officers who not only valued his leadership but also considered him a dear friend.”
Members of the public performed CPR on Sergeant Wiblen (far left in the photo) before emergency services arrived, but the 58-year-old man could not be saved and died at the scene.
Bianca Stone, candidate for the Gold Coast state seat of Gaven, led tributes to the beloved senior officer on Wednesday evening.
“He was a great guy, always up for a chat and a laugh. My condolences go out to his loved ones and the entire police family,” she posted Wednesday night.
Sergeant Wiblen’s family also reacted with shock to the news.
“I can’t believe it. Complete and utter shock. I’m so saddened by the news. I’m so saddened by the news,” one officer wrote online.