Cyclist killed on Newlands Pass 'jumped from bike' rules coroner

An inquest has heard that a cyclist died on Newlands Pass near Buttermere in the Lake District after jumping off his bike while coming round a sharp bend. Senior coroner David Roberts concluded that Dr Simon Newell was not going to make it round the corner on his bike and had jumped onto a bank where there was a significant drop, landing awkwardly on his head and neck.

Newell, 59, was a consultant at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, specialising in neonatal medicine. He and his wife had been due to retire to Braithwaite, where they owned a cottage, five weeks after his death in August of last year.

Roberts said he was unable to say why Newell had crashed, calling him an "experienced and confident" rider.

"This is a steep hill. Simon knew the bend was there and I'm satisfied he was a careful rider. It's possible he could have come across a sheep, you just don't know.

"What is clear is that the bike was not going to go round the corner. Whatever happened, Simon left the road, hit the uneven ground and decided to jump and unfortunately for him he's landed this way and sustained fatal injuries as a result."

Newell’s wife, Debra, also a doctor, said: "We both worked really hard and were about to retire together. He was a very sociable man and spoke to everyone he met. He was very happy in his job and his family. I just admired him. Thirty-four years together wasn't long enough."