It is with great sadness that we have to inform members of the tragic death of Ryan Birch killed in a car crash on the Island of Bahamas

The following is taken from the Hull Daily Mail (March 2013)

TRIBUTES have been paid to a Hull Olympian killed in a car crash in the Bahamas.

Judo expert Ryan Birch, 43, was involved in a head-on collision minutes after touching down in the country.

Married father of two Mr Birch,43, who was also a commercial airline pilot, represented Team GB at both 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Olympics. 

Details of the accident were not clear last night, but local reports state that a British man was killed when a rental car was in collision with a truck in heavy rain close to Odyssey airport on March 19th.

At this time our thoughts go out to his wife Rowena and his two children Ellis and Allana.
We all remember Ryan as a 'gentle giant' who never lost his temper and  was always happy to talk to anyone

Our picture shows Ryan with a  " Lady "(Carlo Loftus now in Canada) at our 70th celebrations and illustrates Ryan at his most charming and patient,  in dealing with such a questionable admirer.

Ryan you will be missed by us all