IN a heartwarming tribute last night hundreds of bikers accompanied the remains of road racing medic Dr John Hinds on a final lap of his favourite circuit - the Tandragee 100.
As a mark of respect to the man dubbed 'the flying doctor', the motorcyclists joined the convoy as his body was returned home to his devastated family.
Dr Hinds's partner Janet Acheson, an obstetrician at Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry, rode pillion with another 'flying doctor' Dr Fred MacSorley as they led the cortege along the Belfast-to-Dublin motorway.
The 35-year-old consultant, who was himself a biking enthusiast, died while providing medical cover at the Skerries 100 race in Dublin on Saturday.
Relatives had asked bikers to join the cortege as it travelled north on the motorway. Riders accompanied the convoy as it passed a service station on the M1 near Castlebellingham, Co Louth.
They travelled with the cortege to Co Armagh where they completed a lap of "John's favourite" Tandragee 100 circuit.
His family last night described the public support they had received following his death as "incredibly heartwarming".
In a statement, his partner Janet, parents and brothers said the "widespread support and acknowledgement of John's work, both nationally and internationally" had been "a great source of comfort to us all at this terribly sad time".
"We are only now beginning to understand just how many lives John touched during his 35 action-packed years," they said.
"John lived for his family, his patients and the biking fraternity. The world will be a poorer place without him."
The family also urged the public to back his campaign for an air ambulance in Northern Ireland as a legacy to him and urged members of the public to sign a petition in his memory.
They said they hoped "John’s dream of establishing a doctor-led helicopter emergency medical service and full trauma network in Northern Ireland" could be achieved.
Dr Hinds, originally from Portaferry in Co Down, was a leading light in the field of pre-hospital trauma care.
He was nicknamed one of the "flying doctors" of Irish motorcycle racing for the lifesaving support he provided during high speed bike races including the North West 200.
His funeral is due to take place at St Patrick's Church in Portaferry, Co Down at 2pm on Thursday.
