A Wellington GP who died after being hit by a branch in high winds was an “incredibly generous man” with a great sense of humour and strong drive to help patients, a fellow doctor says.
Richard Tyler, a specialist GP, was critically injured on Tuesday morning when gale-force winds dislodged a tree branch on a walking track on Mt Victoria.
He was discovered by a member of the public and rushed to hospital, but died of his injuries a short time later.
A person close to Tyler described the incident to the Herald as a “freak accident”.
Meanwhile, General Practice NZ chairman Dr Bryan Betty said he knew Tyler “around the traps” and that his death was “an absolute tragedy” and “a great loss to general practice”.
He was involved in setting up the Wellington Independent Practitioners Association (WIPA) to help GP practices “start to come together to really start to look at population health”.
Tyler was “integral to the development of modern-day general practice in the lower North Island”, Betty said.
Tyler was also involved in setting up the Wellington After Hours Medical Centre, and had been the director at the Medical Assurance Society (MAS) for decades. He retired from that role in 2017.
“He was an incredibly generous man, he was incredibly intelligent,” Betty said.
He had “an absolute desire to improve outcomes of patients . . . he was just one of those people who sort of just pushed things forward”.
Tyler also had a great sense of humour, Betty said.
“It’s a tragedy for this to happen in this way.”
Betty shared his condolences with Tyler’s friends and family. Speaking in his role as Tū Ora Compass Health chairman, Betty said the organisation’s “sympathies and hearts go out to them in what’s an incredibly difficult time”.
“He will be sorely missed. He was a central figure in Wellington general practice.”
In a statement, Tū Ora said it acknowledged Tyler’s death with “deep sadness”, referring to him as a “distinguished” general practitioner and a “cornerstone of primary care in the Greater Wellington region”.
“Dr Tyler played a pivotal role in uniting general practices under a shared governance model, significantly strengthening coordination and service delivery across the region through the Wellington Independent Practice Association (WIPA). He was a founding director when WIPA was established in 1995 and became Chair in 2002,” Tū Ora said.
Following the consolidation of Primary Health Organisations (PHOs) in the region and the formation of Compass Health in 2010, Tyler became chairman of the PHO — a role he held until 2014.
“His governance expertise was instrumental in shaping the organisation’s early structure and strategic direction.”
Under his leadership, Compass Health grew, covering a population of over 300,000 people. Now known as Tū Ora Compass Health, the PHO serves over 440,000 enrolled patients across the greater Wellington region.
“Dr Tyler’s legacy is one of strategic vision, integrity, and generosity. His contributions have left an enduring mark on primary care governance, both regionally and nationally.
“We extend our heartfelt sympathies to Dr Tyler’s whānau, friends, and colleagues. His passing is a profound loss to our community, and he will be remembered with deep respect and affection.”
MAS chairman Brett Sutton also shared a statement about Tyler’s “long and distinguished history” with the organisation in which he provided “steady leadership, deep wisdom and unwavering commitment”.
“As a specialist GP, Richard brought an invaluable perspective to the Board. His deep understanding of the medical profession helped MAS stay closely aligned with the needs of our practitioner membership, ensuring that our services remained relevant, supportive and grounded in the realities of professional life,” Sutton said.
“As chair, he steered the organisation through the turmoil of the Christchurch earthquakes and the global financial crisis, and the subsequent upheaval they caused in the finance and insurance sectors.”
Tyler would be remembered not only for his “remarkable tenure”, but also for the “care, insight, and dedication he brought to everything he did”.
“Our thoughts are with Richard’s family, friends and all those who had the privilege of working alongside him.”
A former patient of Tyler’s, Pat Vincent, also shared memories of him.
“We were shocked to hear the news,” she said. “Richard Tyler was our family doctor at the Johnsonville Medical Centre for nearly 40 years. He delivered our youngest son. He was a diligent doctor who was direct and a straight talker, but with a keen sense of humour.”