A BIKER who died following an accident on Cartmel Fell had lost control of his motorcycle, an inq-uest has heard.

David Bolan, 47, from Preston, died at Royal Lancaster Infir-mary on May 31, following fatal injur-ies which he suffered when his bike hit a wall.

Crash investigator PC Richard Wiejak told coroner Ian Smith that Mr Bolan had hit a dry stone wall while riding his CCM motor-bike along the C5227 road from Heights Road towards the old A590.

He suffered fatal rib fractures and internal bleeding.

PC Wiejak said the conditions on the single track road had been good that day and Mr Bolan had been wearing the correct safety equip-ment.

He said he believed Mr Bolan had come up the brow of the hill near Reservoir House and braked harshly, causing his motorbike to skid.

He then lost control of the bike, slid across the road and hit the wall, suffering fatal injuries.

Peter Hornby, of Ashwoods Close, Ful-wood, was with Mr Bolan on the day of his death.

He told the coroner he had known Mr Bolan since he was a four-year-old boy and the pair had been riding motorbikes to-gether since they were 11.

He said Mr Bolan was an experienced biker but he had not been very familiar with the area.

Mr Hornby said he had ridden over the brow of the fell and stopped to open a gate.

Then he heard Mr Bolan’s bike skid and slide towards him, hitting the dry stone wall.

Coroner Ian Smith recorded a verdict of accidental death.

He said Mr Bolan had not been riding inappropriately but “for whatever reason he had come round the brow of the hill, was caught out and lost control”.

Speaking after the inquest Mr Hornby said: “I have lost a very good mate.”