A World War II veteran died while travelling to a dawn service this morning.
John Atkinson, 98, from Port Broughton, South Australia, fell off his mobility scooter on his way to the service.
Shocked passers-by helped him to get back onto his scooter, but he fell again, his son Russell told the York Peninsula Country Times.
An ambulance was called and paramedics attempted to revive Mr Atkinson and used a defibrillator, but he died at the scene.
“He was very much looking forward to taking part in the dawn service, and later leading the local march from the RSL, as he has done many times before,” his son said.
“He was so independent and resilient.”
Mr Atkinson enlisted as soon as he could after turning 18 in September, 1943 and served as a transport driver with the RAAF in the Pacific theatre of WWII, including northern Australia and Papua New Guinea.
The Returned and Service League of Australia said Mr Atkinson’s passing was “very sad news”.
“The RSL extends its deepest condolences to John Atkinson’s family, his friends and colleagues in the veteran community,” spokesman Tony Harrison said via 7News.
The Australian Department of Veterans’ Affairs estimates there are up to 3000 World War II servicemen and women still alive today.