Messages of love and support have flooded in for a family mourning the loss of a much loved father-of-three and keen cyclist.

Dan “Cash” Stephenson, 45, from High Halstow, suffered severe head injuries when he was hit by a bus while riding with fellow BMX enthusiasts on Saturday, June 4.

He was put on life support at the Royal London Hospital but scans failed to detect any brain function and he was declared clinically dead the next night.

This week his father, David Stephenson, said he and his family had been devastated by the loss but had been inundated with messages of support.

He took some consolation from the fact his son was an organ donor and could well have helped save lives in the wake of his death.

“It’s very easy to feel sorry for yourself,” said Mr Stephenson. “But a blessing if there is one is that Danny probably died instantly, or certainly never regained consciousness.

“He didn’t die suffering or in pain, and hopefully through donations he may have given life to others. These things are a comfort.

“We would have been only too delighted if he was a recipient to keep him alive, so we would never object.

“He’s left lovely children. He had some lovely friends.”

The full circumstances of the accident in The Strand, London, will not be released until an inquest is resumed, but Mr Stephenson said his son had not been wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

“He had the helmet, but why he hadn’t taken it with him I don’t know,” he said.

“The brutal facts are he had an accident with a bus. I can’t see that there would have been any great speeds involved – it’s The Strand on a Saturday night, but the actual cause of the accident we just don’t know.”

“I don’t believe it’s happened. I know logically it has, but emotionally I still think he’s going to turn up” Dad, David

“I don’t believe it’s happened”, he added. “I know logically it has, but emotionally I still think he’s going to turn up.”

A member of various BMX groups, Mr Stephenson had taken part in several charity rides for Evelina Children’s Hospital, but his father explained the bikes were just one of many interests his son had over the years.

Intellectually bright, he attended Cliffe Middle School and then Hundred of Hoo, but decided to leave aged 16 to pursue an interest in cars, and soon found a job with a garage.

His mechanical skills took him on to roles with National Tyres and Kwik Fit, and subsequently Quartic Engineering where Danny worked as manager with subsidiary company Dartford Metal Crafts.

He enjoyed music, had an eye for drawing, and could turn his hand to many other talents.

“He was an expert cartoonist,” said Mr Stephenson. “At one time when he was young he had a website he started where he sold cartoons. He had a habit of drawing things.

“He had an ear for music, although he was never properly trained. Only the other week he came up to my home and the piano was open. He had heard a piece of classical music, an aria. We had no sheet music but from ear he picked out the correct notes on the piano.”

But he said that his main quality, and perhaps why he had so many friends, was Mr Stephenson’s honesty.

“He didn’t make enemies,” said Mr Stephenson. “I remember when he was with Kwik Fit he was sometimes cross with management when they wanted more sales, although his depot was always the top or second in the district.

“Once a woman came in and thought her husband needed new tyres. Danny went out and said, ‘No you don’t, the tread is worn but you’ve got a few hundred miles left’.

She went back the next day and asked for four new tyres. They said we want four new tyres and we want them from you because you’re so honest.

“It was that type of thing – using honesty and being genuine was his biggest selling point.

“He was helpful. If someone needed help, if they were suffering, or they were old or incapacitated, he would help.”

He leaves behind his children, Ashley, 20, Riley, 13, and Poppi, 10, father David and mother Denise, sister Sharon, partner Nicola Stringer, and ex-wife Michelle Stephenson.