Hall overflows with mourners for Samuel Gibson

Samuel Gibson of Hawkes Bay has a congenital bone disorder, leaving him 1 metre tall and nearly all of his bones have been broken. Mr Gibson is also an adventurer and has designed a special wheelchair

More than 700 people have filled a hall to farewell and celebrate Samuel Gibson.

The father of two died in Hawke's Bay Hospital on Monday, after falling from his wheelchair during the Hawke's Bay International Marathon.

The 39-year-old adventurer had a rare brittle bone disease and spoke at TEDxAuckland last week about his experience with osteogenesis imperfecta.

The main hall at the Riverbend Bible Church in Havelock North was not big enough for the hundreds of people attending.

Police were on hand to help direct traffic outside the venue. As the hall filled up, others were ushered in to a side room to watch the service on a screen.

Gibson's family shared their happy times with the audience.

Children formed a circle around a light brown coffin, joined hands and sung You Are My Sunshine.

In 2008, Mr Gibson won a TVNZ Attitude Award for the design and manufacture of EziRiser wheelchairs, which were sold around the world. He was not using the chair he designed during the marathon.