Fly in eye could have led to fatal cycle crash, inquest told

A Shrewsbury father-of-three, who was killed in a freak accident as he trained for a charity cycle ride, could have been affected by a fly going into his eye, an inquest has heard.

Gary Brierley, 44, of Pendle Way, Meole Brace, suffered major head injuries when he came off his bike at about 40mph near Dinas Mawddwy in Snowdonia in May. He had been training with friends at the time.

Mr Brierley, who worked as an accountant for Shropshire Council, was aiming to take part in a charity ride for Cancer Research from John O'Groats to Land's End in June.

A coroner in Cardiff ruled yesterday that an insect going into his eye was a "plausible explanation" for the tragic accident.

Mr Brierley had been wearing a helmet but not a protective glasses .

He died at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff four days after the incident.

Cardiff coroner Mrs Mary Hassell said: "Gary was very fit and a very experienced and good cyclist.

"He was going fast but that was not unusual for him because he was very experienced, fit and was used to it. But something made him wobble.

"There was no animal or pot hole or debris and nothing the collision investigator could find.

"If you were going 40 miles per hour, a tiny insect in your eye could cause you to wobble, that could be a very plausible explanation."

She recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Mr wife Sue said the couple had celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary just a week before his death in May.

"Gary was dependable, reliable and he was always early for everything," she said. "He was a family man. He was quiet, unassuming and a fantastic dad," she said

Mr Brierley was in training to be part of a 20-strong team. The rest of the riders decided to continue with the challenge in his memory .

They managed to collect a total of £20,550 ,with about £1,000 being donated by Mr Brierley's former colleagues.

By Chris Burn