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| US daredevil Evel Knievel dies | US daredevil Evel Knievel dies |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Legendary US daredevil Evel Knievel has died at the age of 69, his granddaughter has said. | Legendary US daredevil Evel Knievel has died at the age of 69, his granddaughter has said. |
| Knievel had suffered ill-health, including diabetes and pulmonary fibrosis - an incurable lung condition - for several years. | Knievel had suffered ill-health, including diabetes and pulmonary fibrosis - an incurable lung condition - for several years. |
| He underwent a liver transplant, after nearly dying of hepatitis C, in 1999. | He underwent a liver transplant, after nearly dying of hepatitis C, in 1999. |
| Knievel gained cult status performing death-defying stunts in the 1960s and 70s, including an attempted motorcycle jump over Snake River Canyon in Idaho. | Knievel gained cult status performing death-defying stunts in the 1960s and 70s, including an attempted motorcycle jump over Snake River Canyon in Idaho. |
| Rocket-powered bike | Rocket-powered bike |
| HAVE YOUR SAY He was such a mythical and iconic figure that later on, as a teenager, I had to be convinced he wasn't some made-up figure from a distant childhood memory. Marc Starr, Manchester href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7122336.stm">In pictures: Evel Knievel class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=3882&edition=1">Send us your comments | |
| He regularly drew huge crowds when he attempted to jump over rows of parked vehicles with his motorbike. | He regularly drew huge crowds when he attempted to jump over rows of parked vehicles with his motorbike. |
| "They started out watching me bust my ass, and I became part of their lives," Knievel once said. | "They started out watching me bust my ass, and I became part of their lives," Knievel once said. |
| In one famous incident in 1968, he attempted to jump over the fountains at the Caesars Palace casino in Las Vegas. | In one famous incident in 1968, he attempted to jump over the fountains at the Caesars Palace casino in Las Vegas. |
| The resulting crash put him in a coma for 29 days, but brought him a large amount of publicity. | The resulting crash put him in a coma for 29 days, but brought him a large amount of publicity. |
| His 1974 attempt to cross the Snake River Canyon in Idaho on a rocket-powered bike also failed, when a parachute opened prematurely and he fell into the river. | His 1974 attempt to cross the Snake River Canyon in Idaho on a rocket-powered bike also failed, when a parachute opened prematurely and he fell into the river. |
| By the time he retired in 1980 Knievel had broken nearly 40 bones. | By the time he retired in 1980 Knievel had broken nearly 40 bones. |