Sporting identity killed in quad bike accident

A prominent East Coast farmer and sporting identity has died in a quad bike accident on his property near Tokomaru Bay, north of Gisborne.

Police say the man, who was in his 70s, was mustering stock on his farm inland from Tokomaru Bay late afternoon when the tragedy occurred.

Police say he was on a ridge on his bike when it appears he lost control of the machine and it plunged some distance down a steep bank.

Attempts were made to revive him but he died of his injuries at the scene.