Brazen thieves have stolen the bike of 74-year-old organ transplant recipient Adrian Grant, ahead of a charity ride.
Mr Grant — who received a lifesaving heart transplant in June 2020 — had planned to take part in the Capital Limited Breaths & Beats Ride for Research on April 21, leading a team of cyclists raising money for research into heart and lung disease.
He’s now been forced to put the call out for the return of his yellow Aventon e-bike, which — despite being doubled locked — was taken from Aubin Grove Train Sation earlier this month.
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Unsure if he can afford the hefty price tag of a new ebike, the theft leaves Mr Grant’s 29km ride and fundraising efforts in limbo.
“I couldn’t believe it,” he said.
“When I returned to the station just five hours later to find out it was gone.
“I only had it for two months and only racked up about 200km on it.”
Mr Grant told PerthNow he watched the “devastating” video footage, which shows a person shadowing another to gain entry into the bike shed and cutting the locks.
“It was devastating,” he said.
“I reported that three weeks ago and I’ve heard nothing from Police.
“And they say if you do get it back, it’ll either be damaged or in disrepair.”
It was in 2010 when Mr Grant’s heart went into ventricular fibrillation during a morning cycle to the train station before work.
“Amazingly, a Transperth employee happened to be there at the time and knew what to do until the ambulance arrived,” he said.
“Without him, chances are I wouldn’t have survived.”
After weeks in hospital, the now 74-year-old left with an implanted defibrillator and a diagnosed hereditary heart condition causing his health to deteriorate.
In 2020, a five-hour heart transplant operation granted him a new lease on life.
He said the upcoming charity ride was a way to give back to healthcare professionals.
“I had fantastic treatment during my six months in hospital,” he said.
“So it’s really thanks to the doctors, nurses and health professionals.
“If the thieves have got an emotional heart, I would ask them to return the bike - no questions asked – so that I can get out there and help those in need.”
The Capital Limited Breaths & Beats Ride for Research raises funds for the WA Heart and Lung Research Institute.