Bikie, 32, suddenly dies after a bizarre Facebook post about happiness – a year-and-a-half after his father-in-law was assassinated
- Former bikie dies just days after making a series of bizarre social media posts
- Ex-Bandidos hard man Ricky Champan died in Western Australia on Wednesday
- The 32-year-old died working as a FIFO rigger at Rio Tinto’s port in Cape Lambert
A former bikie who was involved in a string of major incidents has suddenly died at work.
Ricky Chapman, a 32-year-old one-time hard man for the Bandidos on the Gold Coast, was found dead on Wednesday evening after suffering a medical episode.
Emergency services were called to Rio Tinto’s port in Cape Lambert, about 1,500km north of Perth, about 10pm, but Chapman could not be revived.
He was working as a fly-in-fly-out rigger between Perth and Cape Lambert at the time of his death after vowing to give up the outlaw motorcycle gang lifestyle.
Chapman was involved in the infamous bikie brawl in Broadbeach in 2013 and last made headlines in 2020 when he copped a stray bullet to the arm in the contract killing of his father-in-law, Rebels kingpin Nick Martin.
Ricky Chapman, a one-time hard man for the Bandidos on the Gold Coast, died aged just 32 on Wednesday night. Pictured with his partner Stacey Schoppe
In the 12 months since leaving prison, Chapman appears to have dedicated his life to body building and his new work
The cryptic Facebook post Chapman made just days before he suddenly died while on the job
He required surgery to remove the bullet and was arrested upon leaving hospital for breaching the conditions of his parole for associating with known underworld figures.
He served further prison time but was released in April 2021, when he again vowed to turn his life around, the Courier Mail reported.
In the 12 months since, Chapman appears to have dedicated his life to body building and his new work.
Just two days ago the 32-year-old shared a motivational quote reading ‘I hope that you become filled with so much happiness that it heals every part of you’.
He was working as a fly-in-fly-out rigger between Perth and Cape Lambert at the time of his death after vowing to give up the outlaw motorcycle gang lifestyle
Emergency services were called to Rio Tinto’s port in Cape Lambert, about 1,500km north of Perth, about 10pm, but Chapman could not be revived
His mother shared an update to extended friends and family confirming his tragic death overnight.
She was inundated with messages of support and shock.
‘Is this a joke? Please don’t be serious,’ one mourner said in response.
Chapman was a keen body builder at the time of his death
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