Man, 62, dies while biking

Ojai man collapses, dies during mountain bike ride

December 30, 2005

An Ojai man died of unknown health problems while mountain biking with a friend
Thursday, the Ventura County Sheriff's Department said.

Robert Smith, 62, and a female friend were taking a morning ride on Cozy Dell
Trail in Ojai when he suffered what might have been a heart attack, officials
said. The cause of death will not be determined until an autopsy is performed,
authorities said.

The woman performed CPR on Smith while emergency personnel responded,
authorities said. A helicopter lowered a deputy and a paramedic to the trail,
where several attempts to revive Smith were unsuccessful, officials said.

He was pronounced dead at 9:05 a.m. Thursday, sheriff's Capt. Ron Nelson said.

Ventura County Star