Cyclist died falling off his bike in park

INQUEST TOLD HE WAS UNCONSCIOUS BEFORE HITTING THE GROUND

A “fit and healthy” man died after falling off his bicycle at Wollaton Park, an inquest heard.

Nicholas Alan Besley, 48, from Nottingham, fell off his bike during a ride at the popular beauty spot on June 14 this year.

He was treated by paramedics at the scene and admitted to Queen’s Medical Centre, where he later died on June 27.

The inquest held at the Council House yesterday, heard that Mr Besley experienced an episode of syncope - meaning he became unconscious before he hit the ground.

Syncope causes a person to faint or pass out, and can often be caused by low blood pressure or a drop in someone’s heart rate.

Mr Besley had experienced episodes of syncope before, first reporting it to his GP and being diagnosed back in 2009, however the cause of these episodes remained unidentified.

Evidence from witnesses stated that it appeared he had not attempted to break his fall after falling off the bicycle, suggesting he became unconscious before he hit the ground.

One employee from Wollaton Park was alerted to what was happening after seeing an ambulance driving at speed towards Derby Road just after 9.15am.

Two members of the public were first on the scene, with one woman who was first aid trained tending to Mr Besley until the paramedics arrived.

The inquest was told: “On June 14 she and her husband left an address to visit Wollaton Park as they often did during lockdown.

“At approximately 9.15am they were walking just past the golf course in the direction of the lake when they heard the sound of tyres hitting the gravel and they saw Mr Besley on the floor.

“Another member of the public asked if they had a phone and they went immediately to his assistance and she tended to Mr Besley on the ground.”

The woman said in her wit- ness statement that at no point at any time did Mr Besley show any sign of consciousness.

A police officer involved in the investigation into what happened told the inquest that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death - a toxicology report also found no evidence of any drugs or alcohol in Mr Besley’s system.

Mairin Casey, HM Coroner for Nottinghamshire, described Mr Besley as a “fit and healthy gentleman”, adding: “He simply came off his bicycle. There was no suggestion that he tried to break his fall - there was no screeching of the brakes and witnesses didn’t hear him shout.

“I find on the balance of probabilities that the fall most likely resulted from syncope over a short period where he became unconscious.” Mr Besley’s cause of death was given as a head injury after a bicycle crash caused by syncope.

She continued: “All that is left for me to do is to extend my most sincere condolences to Mrs Besley and her family.

“This is a tragic case and I extend my full symapthies to them.”

There was no suggestion that he tried to break his fall.

Mairin Casey