A TRIATHLETE was hit and killed by a car in an "unavoidable accident" while out running in Westhoughton, a court heard.

Driver Brenda Aspinall would have had "less than a second" to react before her car hit Anthony Foster, known by his family and friends as Tony, in Bolton Road on March 8.

The 54-year-old, had won a duathlete competition just two weeks before his death and was described by his wife Susan Foster as “very physically fit and healthy”.

Bolton Coroner's Court heard that the father-of-two would exercise every day and followed a weekly routine of swimming, cycling and running.

On the evening of his death he had set off after work, from his home in Reynolds Drive in Over Hulton, for a nine-mile run.

It was believed he was heading to Snydle Water Tower and had told his wife that he would be “longer than usual”.

However at around 7.30pm, the court heard that Mrs Foster had become “concerned” that her husband wasn’t yet home and went out to look for him with her daughter.

It was while she was out that she became aware that there had been a crash and after speaking to a police officer she was told her husband had been taken to Salford Royal Hospital.

Mr Foster suffered a brain trauma and his injuries were described as “un-survivable”.

He was unconscious from the point of impact until his death on March 10.

Before his death Mr Foster had been seen running by several witnesses in vehicles.

Deborah Beresford saw Mr Foster pass in front of her car, while she was approaching the traffic lights in Bolton Road.

She said: “I just knew what was going to happen and remember thinking he wasn’t going to stop.”

Mr Foster, who worked as a plastic fabricator, then passed behind Matthew Mercer’s car, which was turning right.

It was then that he was hit by Brenda Aspinall who had been travelling south east along Manchester Road.

She was breathalysed at the scene, a test which proved negative and was said to have been driving within the speed limit.

No further action was taken against her by police.

Miss Aspinall, aged 65, said: “The first I knew that anything had happened was when my window screen shattered and I heard a thud.

“I didn’t even know it was a person.”

PC Gary Byron a GMP forensic collision reconstruction officer said that Miss Aspinall would have had "less than a second" to react, meanwhile PC Mark Thomas, a serious investigation officer, said the crash was “unavoidable”.

PC Thomas said: “He was not in her line of sight.

“There would have been insufficient time for her to react and avoid the collision.”

Area Coroner Alan Walsh said: “Tony was unconscious from the moment of impact which may be of some small comfort to the family.

“He was a loving husband and a loving father.

“He was a very fit and very healthy man.

“I am satisfied that Miss Aspinall had insufficient time to react.

“I am sure the horror of what happened will live with Miss Aspinall.”

A conclusion of accidental death was recorded.