Mr Lyons, with typical smile, on a charity cycle ride in Peru in 2005

Tributes have been pouring in for charity cyclist John Lyons, who died on a sponsored ride by a group of Islanders in Ecuador.

More details have emerged about the tragic accident which killed the popular General Hospital porter, described by one friend as ‘kind, charming and larger than life’.

Eyewitnesses said that his bike was hit by a small truck. A spokesman for the company that organised the Bedell Group challenge in Ecuador, in aid of Jersey Hospice Care, said that the witnesses reported that the bikes being ridden by Mr Lyons and the group doctor, who was injured in the accident, were struck from the rear.

Discover Adventure’s head of ground operations, Richard Fielding, said that Mr Lyons (60), and Dr Helen Fielding, a volunteer from the UK, were at the rear of small group of five at the time of the accident. He said that the accident happened on a straight piece of road at about 9.30 am local time on Sunday about 50 km from the end of the 520 km, seven-day ride.

Islanders from from all walks of life have paid tribute to Mr Lyons. The popular 60-year-old hospital porter, who was married to Judy, was from Ireland and started work at the Hospital in 1971. He worked as a theatre attendant in the day surgery unit.