Industry mourns 'sad, sad loss' after chairman of Arup's Americas division is hit by a lorry in San Francisco.
Tony Fitzpatrick, chairman of the Americas division of Arup and one of the world's leading structural engineers, died in a road accident in America on Sunday.

It is understood that Fitzpatrick, 52, died while competing in a cycle race in San Francisco when he collided with a lorry on a downhill stretch.

In a statement Arup said: "Tony dedicated his working life and his unbounded energy to Arup and engineering, and leaves a large gap in our lives. He will be missed by all who knew him. We extend our deepest sympathy to his widow and to his children."

Fitzpatrick came to the public's attention as the man who took the wobble out of London's Millennium bridge across the Thames in 2001.

His achievements include the structural design of Foster and Partners' Hongkong and Shanghai Bank in Hong Kong, its Canary Wharf sister, Jean Nouvel's Tour Sans Fin in Paris, Renzo Piano's London Bridge Tower and Richard Rogers Partnership's Terminal 5 at Heathrow.

His death is a tragic loss to the industry

Graham Watts, chief executive, the Construction Industry Council

Technically he was top-notch. I owe him a lot

Chris Wise, principal of Expedition Engineering and former Arup colleague

I am still shocked by the news. He was a good friend and a fantastic engineer; he was totally one-off, there was nobody quite like him

Ken Shuttleworth, Foster and Partners

Those who knew him describe Tony Fitzpatrick as highly motivated, 鈥渓arger than life character鈥�, renowned for the enthusiasm he brought to projects.

Fitzpatrick had to call on all these qualities when Arup鈥檚 reputation was put on the line by the 鈥渨obbly bridge鈥� debacle. Fitzpatrick came up with the vibration control mechanism that stopped London鈥檚 Millennium Bridge from wobbling and pulled his firms chestnuts out of the fire.

Bob Emerson, the engineer鈥檚 group chairman, said: 鈥淗e had an uncanny ability to make incisive contributions that changed the design direction of many important projects. His strategic vision will be missed.鈥�

Fitzpatrick was also in the front ranks of those advocating the swift adoption of new technologies. Last year he gave an interview to 黑洞社区 using a video link from Arup鈥檚 San Francisco office about working without paper.

Chris Wise, a former colleague, said of him: 鈥淗e was a man who lived for everything that he did. He was fantastically motivated and wanted everybody to live life like he did.鈥�