An inquest has heard how a cyclist hit by a lorry in November 2008 ultimately died in July 2013 having spent the intervening period in hospital. The Lincolnshire Echo reports how David Gillett was hit by a lorry driver who had allowed insufficient space when overtaking.

Spilsby Coroner's Court heard how Gillett, a refuse collector, would regularly ride his bike between his Great Hale home and Heckington station as part of his commute to Grantham. On November 3, 2008, he was hit by a lorry driven by John Pogson while riding on the A17.

Gillett was taken to Queen's Medical Centre where he was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury which left him unable to talk or move. Later, in March 2009, he was transferred to the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disabilty in London for rehabilitation. However, he died there in July 2013 from bronchial pneumonia and traumatic brain injury at the age of 48.

Stuart Fisher, coroner for central Lincolnshire, said: "I believe there is a link between the collision and Mr Gillett's death five years later. He was a man to admire. He got up early and travelled to Grantham and it was on that journey that he was injured."

Pogson, who was driving a 7.5 tonne lorry, took full responsibility for the collision. He described hearing an “almighty bang” and said: "I accept that I misjudged the situation and that I drove too close to the cyclist ahead of me and as a result I collided with the bike causing that rider to fall off."

Earlier this year, Cycling Scotland’s road safety awareness campaign, Give Everyone Cycle Space, suggested that an arm's length was enough space when passing. Many were quick to criticise, suggesting that this is not enough.

Rule 163 of the Highway Code says that motorists “should give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car” and this is accompanied by an illustration of a motorist overtaking a man on a bike.