An "extraordinary" young sailor well on his way to becoming a sea captain died after his motorcycle hit a wall early yesterday morning.

Adam Goodwin, 22, an officer of the watch on the Spirit of Bermuda, suffered serious injuries in the crash on South Road in Smith's just after 4 a.m.

The former Saltus Grammar School student was rushed to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital but was pronounced dead at 4.32 a.m.

His devastated family were too upset to speak yesterday but many others paid tribute to a "warm and humble" young man with exceptional seafaring skills.

Mr. Goodwin, from Smith's, had returned to Bermuda only last month to work on-board the Spirit youth training ship for the Bermuda Sloop Foundation, after studying in Tasmania to be a merchant marine officer.

Foundation chairman Alan Burland told The Royal Gazette: "This is just devastating news. We first of all extend our deepest, heartfelt condolences to his family but we would like to celebrate his life.

"Adam was a young man who at 22 years of age had accomplished so much. He didn't take the easy route. He went and spent the best part of four years in Tasmania at a top academy.

"He passed his exams and became an officer of the watch for unlimited tonnage, which is extraordinary for a 22-year-old."

He described Mr. Goodwin as "a lovely, warm person". "He was gentle but strong.

"He was a fabulous mentor. His attitude, his approach, his professionalism, his empathy — he really was as good as it gets and we want to recognise that."

Malcolm Kirkland, the Foundation's director of strategic initiatives, spoke of a character who was "very humble, very endearing, very competent, very balanced, with very little ego". "It's just simply tragic," he said.

He said Mr. Goodwin — the ninth road fatality of 2010 — had been involved with Spirit from the start, working on the ship for six months before attending the Maritime College in Tasmania.

"If he had put 150 days more in, he could have been a captain but he chose to come back and work on Spirit. His qualification is one thing but he was a lightning rod for kids."

Last week, a group of 25 students from Saltus took part in the school's first voyage on-board Spirit, spending a week at sea with the crew, including Mr. Goodwin.

Saltus headmaster Ted Staunton said the youngsters became very close to him on the trip and would be heart-broken by the news.

"I was on the ship myself for the last half day and there was a presentation at the end of the voyage and Adam was recognised for getting his papers to become an officer.

"Obviously, he was very popular — you could tell by the cheers of the kids. This is pretty devastating, not only to his family but to the school community and the crew of Saltus students who were on that ship."

Spirit captain Jack Morton said the crew was "terribly saddened at his untimely death". He added: "He was very warm and friendly. He had been with us only a short time but had already worked his way into the hearts of the crew. He will be deeply missed."

Mario Thompson, deputy pilot warden at the Department of Marine and Ports, helped train and mentor the young mariner during the early part of his career, including during a stint on the Oleander.

"I found him to be a very enterprising young man," he said. "I can speak very highly of Adam. He was quiet but really in tune and focused on what he wanted to do."

From August 2005 to June 2006, Mr. Goodwin sailed with the international Class Afloat aboard the Concordia, covering more than 20,000 nautical miles.

Kate Knight, the shipboard director at the time, said last night the journey inspired him to choose a life at sea.

"Adam was a quiet member of the crew but beneath the reserved exterior was a young man with a heart of gold, a spirit for adventure and a passion for nature and the sea.

"Adam was not only a competent crew member, he was a leader amongst his peers. He was meticulous and he absorbed nautical lore and knowledge like a sponge. What I remember most vividly about Adam during our ten-month voyage were his lovely Bermuda accent, his matted red dreadlocks, his remarkable talent for sailing and love of the ocean and birds — and his kind heart."

Mr. Goodwin leaves behind parents David and Julie, brother Mark, who is an engineer on the Spirit, and sister Abbie.

His death comes little more than a month after fellow Saltus graduate Geoffrey Burns, 20, was killed in a bike accident.

Opposition leader and Shadow Transport Minister Kim Swan's daughter was one of the Saltus students on last week's voyage on the Spirit.

He said: "My daughter commented how they all were fond of Adam and he was given the nickname 'Bubble Locks' by one student.

"We are not promised tomorrow and it is extremely sad that someone so young could be taken from us so quickly. May he rest in peace and his family be comforted during this difficult time."

Junior Transport Minister Marc Bean also expressed condolences. "No words can bring comfort to a family who are grieving through this kind of tragic experience," he said. "I would just hope that they find consolation in the fact that he was an excellent role model for young people in Bermuda."

A Police spokesman said the fatal accident — which happened on South Road near the junction with St. Mark's Road — was still being investigated.

"It appears that Mr. Goodwin was riding a motorcycle travelling along South Road when he lost control and collided with a wall," he said. "The Bermuda Police Service extends condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Goodwin."

• Witnesses to the crash should call P.c. Darren Harvey on 295-0011.