Side stand oversight cost man his life

An inquest into the death of a 69-year-old visitor to last year's Manx Grand Prix has heard he died after forgetting to lift the side stand on his motorcycle.

Melvin Arthur Unwin from Cambridgeshire lost his life on the day he arrived on the Island, after stopping to help a motorist.

Evidence showed he travelled over with a group of fellow vintage motorcycle enthusiasts at the end of practice week, on Saturday, August 28.

At around 11.30 that morning the group stopped to assist the motorist whose van had broken down near the Round Table, but Mr Unwin forgot to put the side stand back up when he pulled off.

Before he had travelled 100 yards, Mr Unwin's 500cc Triumph veered into the path of an oncoming Land Rover, on a bend in the road. He was thrown from his machine and then run over by a following motorbike.

Mr Urwin died from multiple injuries and coroner Alastair Montgomerie recorded a verdict of accidental death.

He said there was absolutely no blame attached to the driver of the Land Rover, or the following motorcyclist, who did everything they could to avoid the collision.