Bob Montgomery, an 82-year-old charity cyclist, died on Monday, one day after completing a 5,200-kilometre ride from Broome in Western Australia to Bowral, south-west of Sydney, according to his family and the motor neurone disease charity he supported. The ride, which he had dubbed “One Last Ride”, was undertaken with his 18-year-old grandson, Tom Malcolm, and raised approximately A$105,000 for MND NSW.

In a statement on social media, Montgomery’s family described his death as “unexpected” but “peaceful”, noting that his wife of 59 years, Jenny, was at his side. The family said he had been “still passionately sharing his message only hours before his passing”. The pair had arrived in Bowral on Sunday to a community celebration, and Malcolm continued to Sydney on Monday for a further family gathering.

The precise circumstances of Montgomery’s death remain unclear. While the family statement and MND NSW referred to a medical episode after the Sydney party, the Guardian Australia reported, citing its own understanding, that he died in a single-vehicle crash in the suburb of Arncliffe around 7pm on Monday, when a car struck the side of the M5 East tunnel. The report said emergency services treated him at the scene before he was taken to St George Hospital in a critical condition, where he later died; a 79-year-old passenger was also treated and taken to hospital in a stable condition. No official police or hospital confirmation of a crash has been made public.

Montgomery had completed six interstate fundraising rides for MND NSW, a cause he described as deeply personal after losing a cousin to the disease. His previous efforts had raised almost A$300,000. MND NSW chief executive Liam O’Meara called him a “cherished friend and tireless supporter”, adding that his fundraising helped ensure people living with motor neurone disease could access care, equipment and support. The charity said it was “deeply saddened” by his sudden passing. The exact cause of death has not been independently verified.