FIFO worker’s final message to his wife before he was killed doing what he loved

A FIFO mine worker texted his wife to say he was ‘happy’ shortly before he died in a horror motorcycle crash just weeks before meeting his first grandchild.

Lindsay Clarke, 57, suffered a suspected heart attack during a 1,300km group ride from his home near Perth to his work at a Newman mine in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.

The father-of-three was nearing the end of the epic trek on March 31 when his motorbike suddenly veered off the road and crashed, which was witnessed by fellow riders.

Mr Clarke died at the scene, despite the desperate efforts of mine site medics to revive him.

His wife Ronda, who didn’t share his love for motorbikes, asked him to keep in regular contact while on the road to let her know he was safe.

‘I spoke to him in the morning (of the accident) and he texted me later from Newman, where he was having lunch. He was happy,’ she told 7news.com,au. 

His wife of 33 years took comfort from the fact he was doing something he loved but is struggling with the devastating loss.

‘I feel like I have been robbed. I’ve only just started to wind down and go part-time,’ Ms Clarke said.

Lindsay Clarke, 57, died after he suffered a suspected heart attack during a motorcycle ride. He’s pictured with his wife of 33 years Ronda. 

Lindsay Clarke (pictured) was on a 1,300km group ride from Perth when he died

‘We were making plans to take some trips. I’m still coming to terms with (him not being here).’

Motorbikes were Mr Clarke’s passion and the ride to the Pilbara, where he worked as a bulldozer operator for more than 10 years, had been an annual tradition over recent years.

The couple from Belhus, north-east of Perth, were together for 35 years and had run businesses together, including commercial cleaning, shopping centre development and toy stores.

Through good times and bad, their relationship was always filled with kindness and being able to talk to each other.

‘We’d only been together for four weeks and he proposed to me with a Coke can tab,’ Ms Clarke recalled.

‘I said, ‘ask me again in four years’, and he did. It always felt like it was meant to happen.’

Daughter Zoe Clarke-Crook described him as ‘way more like a best friend’ than a dad.

‘It didn’t matter what we did, he was always there to support us. He cherished his children,’ she said.

The father-of-three and soon-to-be grandfather was close to the end of the epic trek on March 31 when his bike suddenly went off Marble Bar Road and crashed. The extended Clarke family is pictured

The ride to the Pilbara, where Mr Clarke worked as a bulldozer operator for more than 10 years, was an annual tradition over the last four years (pictured)

Mr Clarke was looking forward to the birth of his first grandchild in June.

‘That’s probably the hardest thing,’ his wife added.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family, which remembered Mr Clarke as a devoted husband, loving father, and cherished friend.

‘His love for life, family, and the open road will never be forgotten,’ Chris Teague wrote.

‘His kindness, humour, random Temu purchases and zest for life touched the lives of all who knew him.

Lindsay Clarke (left) worked as a bulldozer operator at a mine in the Pilbara region

‘He was a man who loved his family and friends and extremely passionate about getting the boys together for some epic motorbike rides.’

WA’s major crash unit is investigating Mr Clarke’s death.

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