A LOW flying pheasant collided with a motorcyclist to start a sequence of events that led to his death, an inquest heard.

David Bone was riding along the A355 Beaconsfield Road, Beaconsfield, when the bird hit his helmet. After struggling to regain control, his bike clipped a street sign, throwing the bike sideways onto a grass verge where it crashed into a large tree.

Amersham Coroners Court heard on Wednesday, November 17, how the married 57-year-old engineer had been travelling to work at about 6am on March 3.

Richard Wilson, of Cullyn Road, High Wycombe, was driving an HGV to work when he spotted a headlight on the grass verge.

He said: "I saw a light. At first I thought it was a fly-tipper. As I closed in I could see a person dressed in motorcycle gear, half on the verge and half in the road."

A post mortem by High Wycombe consultant Dr Michael Turner revealed Mr Bone had died from "several non-survivable injuries", including severe damage to his head and spine.

Emergency services were called to the accident but Mr Bone, of Court Lawns, Tylers Green, was pronounced dead at the scene.

PC Andrew Bryant, of Thames Valley police collision team, explained how part of the victim's visor was found on the carriageway covered with the pheasant's blood.

He said: "We know it hit the helmet because it removed the visor. I would think it momentarily stunned him. But the injuries he sustained were from the impact with the sign and tree.

"He was very unlucky. There is evidence of braking. A second impact. But the bike remained upright until it hit the verge."

In recording a verdict of accidental death Bucks Coroner Richard Hulett told the court: "He was the victim of the most bizarre and extreme bad luck. But anyone who observes the flight of pheasants in the countryside will know they don't fly very high.

"To actually have one coincide at head level with the only motorcyclist on the road at the time, the odds must be huge."