A former British and European sailing champion died after an accident on a mountain biking tour in Italy, an inquest has heard.
Jamie Mears, a distinguished sailor, was on the second day of a package cycling tour with his brother in the Imperia province of Italy when he tragically died aged 46 on May 6. Cycling from Molini di Triora, Mears came off his mountain bike and fell roughly 10 metres into a ravine.
He later died as a result of multiple injuries, as senior coroner Lincoln Brooks confirmed the death was an accident at Chelmsford Coroners' Court. Mears was not seen falling off his bike, but was said to have slid off a wet stone before falling into the ravine.
