Tributes for a much loved “community hero” have been made for a 22-year-old off-duty St John Ambulance officer killed on Halswell Road on Tuesday night.

Sean Dickey was killed after he and another off-duty St John Ambulance officer, both on separate motorcycles, were involved in a crash with a car.

New Zealand Team Sailing Association said “we have lost one of the most enthusiastic and cheerful faces that you would ever see on the team sailing circuit”

“Sean dedicated so much of the time he had in his life to being on the water, but he will be especially remembered by those closest to him who were team racing in the South Island in his generation.”

Sean grew up sailing in Wanaka and as he progressed through his college years, was heavily involved in team sailing; attending training camps in Rarotonga and eventually captaining and leading his Wanaka team who would travel the length of the country to compete against other schools.

”Sean was one of our top young national umpires and was always willing to sacrifice his free time in order to help more young sailors get on the water. He was involved in coaching sailors from Wanaka whilst at university and would regularly travel from his base in Christchurch to help them out and he was always a regular face at many of our regional and national championships.”

St John Ambulance Canterbury District Operations Manager Curt Ward earlier said “this devastating loss has been widely felt across the St John whānau and we have reached out to offer our condolences and support to all those affected, including the whānau of the deceased.”

“We are also providing support to the other staff member involved in the crash, who remains in a serious but not life-threatening condition in hospital.”

He said “whilst attending these types of accidents is not uncommon for our ambulance team, they are never easy, and in this incidence, further compounded by involving our own people. “

Ward said “we want to acknowledge the care delivered by our ambulance team last night to their colleague and friend.”

“The ambulance workforce is a small tightknit team, and these types of events are extremely difficult to deal with.”

Friends of Sean Dickey said he was a “community hero.”

Sean Dickey’s work colleague, who was seriously injured in the crash, remains in Christchurch hospital.