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Accidental death verdict for TT visitor

Ballaugh to Jurby A10 coast road

Ralf Zilske died in June following a head-on collision

A verdict of accidental death has been recorded at the inquest into the death of a visiting TT fan.

Fifty-two year old Ralf Zilske from Germany died following a head-on collision on the Jurby A10 coast road.

He was riding his Harley Davidson motorbike round a blind corner on the wrong side of the road, when he collided with a Ford Focus car driving in the opposite direction.

The accident happened on the morning of Wednesday 4 June this year.

Today (27 Oct) the driver of the car Alan Long gave evidence at Douglas Courthouse.

"There was no time at all"

He described how there was only a split second between seeing the motorcyle and the collision itself.

Coroner of Inquests John Needham read a series of witness statements, one from a passer-by who immediately performed CPR on Mr Zilske.

Shortly after, paramedics took over but to no avail - he was pronounced dead at the scene.

First trip to the TT races

A statement was read from one of Mr Zilske's friends, which noted how he had been riding motorbikes from the age of 16 and was a responsible rider.

He was travelling in a group of 14 on his first visit to the Isle of Man TT races.

Mr Needham concluded the hearing with a verdict of accidental death.

He added, it was an "unfortunate momentary lapse of concentration" and no one can speculate why he was driving on the wrong side of the road.

Mr Needham thanked all those that worked on Mr Zilske to try to save him and passed his condolences to Mr Zilske's family and friends.

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