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UPDATE: The BC Coroners Service has identified the victim as Juan Loro Avis



Police are investigating the death of a cyclist on Vancouver’s Seawall.

At about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, paramedics and police were called to the Seawall near Science World for a report of an unconscious cyclist.

The victim, a 45-year-old Vancouver man later identified as Juan Loro Avis, was rushed to hospital in grave condition with severe head injuries.

He was pronounced dead early this morning without regaining consciousness.

Witnesses have indicated that a man was dumpster diving in a large portable plastic garbage can on the Seawall and tossing items out of the bin.

Avis, who was riding along the Seawall at the time, was struck by a fairly heavy object thrown from the trash. The object allegedly caused him to fall face first onto the pavement.

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Avis was not wearing a helmet. Police are not identifying the object that hit him at this time.

Avis has lived in Vancouver for 10 years after moving to Canada from Spain. He would have turned 46 years old tomorrow.

Police say there was no prior interaction between the man and the cyclist and no indication that the hit was intentional.

Investigators are now looking to speak with the man who was searching through the garbage can. They say he left the scene before police arrived.

They don’t believe he knows Avis died as the result of this incident.

The man is described as Aboriginal, 30 to 40-years-old, six feet tall with a medium build and shoulder-length black hair. He was wearing a black puffy jacket and dark jeans.

“I can’t think of an incident like this happening in Vancouver,” says VPD spokesperson Brian Montague. “I could not imagine what the odds are, but I would think they are incredibly small.”

Police say the people who witnessed the incident called 9-1-1 and tried to follow the man, but to no avail.

“There is a possibility there are more witnesses out there,” says Montague.

Investigators will be gathering video surveillance from the area to assist in their investigation.

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Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the VPD Major Crime Section at 604-717-2500 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.