A MOTORCYCLIST suffered serious injuries after difficulty manoeuvring a double bend on the A595 near Whitbeck, an inquest has heard.

Kevin Ritson, 35, of Herdus Road, Whitehaven, had been travelling with friend Alan Nesbitt on August 4 last year when the fatal incident happened.

At an inquest yesterday (Monday), coroner David Roberts said: "While heading homewards on the A595 on a left hand bend at Stangrah farm, Mr Ritson lost control of his machine (a Honda CBR motorbike), crossing the central white line and came off, and entered the verge on the offside of the road.

"He was airlifted to Preston hospital where he died of unsurvivable injuries."

Mr Roberts ruled that Mr Ritson's death was an accident.

At the inquest Mr Nesbitt said he and Mr Ritson had travelled around the county. On returning home, he lost sight of his friend, who had gone ahead, on the double bend.

He said he believed Mr Ritson was travelling at about 40 to 50 mph.

"Then I saw him hitting the bushes. I just thought he was knocked out and I was trying to wake him up," he said.

Nearby farmers John and Emma Lowrey rushed to the scene to give Mr Ritson CPR until emergency services arrived.

Video footage from Mr Ritson's head cam was shown at the inquest of his last journey.

PC Paul Owens, a police motorcycle instructor, said: "From what I've seen he's just slightly out of position on entry to the right hand bend. Unfortunately because he was slightly out of position for that, he was slightly out of position for the left hand bend."

Video footage was used to estimate Mr Ritson was riding at about 70mph, however, coroner Mr Roberts said this was to be treated with caution as it was only a "rough guide".

The inquest heard a report from Cumbria County Council which stated the A595 is subject to monthly highway inspections. At the time of the incident a chevron, was missing, as it had been knocked down in a previous collision.

In conclusion, Mr Roberts said it would have been apparent to Mr Ritson that he was in the wrong position on the road. He then put his rear brake on, causing the bike to stand up.

Mr Roberts said: "Once he chose to slow down, the die was cast. When he came off his bike, he struck a number of objects [bushes, brambles] that caused these fatal injuries."

Although Mr Roberts said there was "nothing to suggest the road surface had anything to do with the incident", he is going to write to the County's highway department to suggest the S bend road section is kept in good condition.

Mr Ritson's wife, Anna Ritson-Hall, paid tribute to her husband describing him as "great". The couple had two children, Christopher and Layla.

Mr Ritson worked as a car salesman for Myers and Bowman and he previously worked for Carpet Right.