Lee Fancourt (source - Facebook)
An inquest has heard that record-breaking cyclist Lee Fancourt overdosed on cocaine after texting a friend: ‘Bye brother, I have had enough'.
Gloucestershire Live reports that on January 19, the 40-year-old father-of-two was found unconscious and unresponsive by police in the back seat of his car, parked in a layby.
Messages posted to social media in the days before his death had given rise to concerns for his welfare and his family had reported him missing as they were not able to contact him.
A pathologist said there had been an overwhelming amount of cocaine present in his body alongside MDMA (ecstasy), some alcohol and therapeutic drugs such as antihistamines and over-the-counter cough mixture.
Coroner Katy Skerrett said: “It might only have been a fleeting intention but based on the amount of cocaine, the text message and how he had taken himself away from his family and friends, I am passing a verdict of suicide.”
Fancourt, who changed his surname to Ridgway prior to his death, established a number of Guinness World Records.
They included the fastest crossing of Europe by bike from north to south, and three records for the furthest distances covered off-road on a mountain bike over 12, 24 and 48 hours.
> Gloucester cyclist sets new World Record for fastest crossing of Europe from north to south
He also set a Guinness World Record for the most countries cycled through in 24 hours, when he visited the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia on a 323-mile ride.
In 2015, he attempted to become the quickest person ever to ride from Land’s End to John and Groats and back again (LEJOGLE), but was forced to abandon due to illness.
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