Tribute to grandfather
The family of Geraldton grand- father John-Paul Lipscombe are in shock after the active, healthy 53-year-old died from a suspected asthma attack at the start of a climb to Indonesia's Mt Rinjani volcano.
Daughter Rikki Lipscombe said they wished he had not been with strangers when he collapsed on Monday morning about 2km into a group hike.
"He goes surfing all the time," she said. "He's really active and he has not had asthma since he was a kid, so it was all a bit of a shock."
Ms Lipscombe said her family trusted what they had been told about his symptoms and were now hoping to bring him home.
Mr Lipscombe had been holidaying in Bali with a relative who had returned to Australia the night before Mr Lipscombe started the trek to the Lombok peak.
"He loved Bali and he was having the time of his life," his daughter said. "He was extremely excited to be doing the trek."
Ms Lipscombe said her father had lived in Geraldton for about a decade after moving from Perth and was loved in the community.
"The yacht club are flying their flag at half-mast for him," she said.
"He's like the class clown. He was a big joker but he was also wise and people would go to him for advice."
She said Mr Lipscombe, who has four children and two grand- children, had dreams of sailing his yacht around Australia.
Ms Lipscombe thanked those who had offered their support since his death, particularly his bosses at air-conditioning and refrigeration company Cramer and Neill.
