A MOTORCYCLIST died after suffering "horrendous injuries" when he hit a pedestrian island in Farnworth.

Foster Gee, aged 39, was travelling along Plodder Lane shortly after 7pm on December 9 last year when his Honda XR 125cc hit a bollard, throwing him over the handlebars and into a lamppost.

He suffered severe unstoppable internal bleeding caused by a traumatic tear in his heart, and died later at the Royal Bolton Hospital, Bolton Coroners Court heard.

Coroner Alan Wash echoed the sentiments of witness Robert Brown who said "humanity came together" when members of the public, along with a consultant and nurses from the Royal Bolton Hospital, all came to Mr Gee's aid after the crash.

Mr Walsh said: "He suffered such horrendous injuries that it was not possible [to save him] but it wasn't for the want of these people performing public support duties to help him."

Two motorists driving along the road, Steven Wood and Mr Brown, confirmed he had been driving correctly, was not speeding or weaving and was wearing a helmet and a high visibility jacket.

They both stopped to help Mr Gee, along with a resident who witnessed the crash, Christine Osborne, who brought out some blankets for him, Dr Richard Parris, a consultant at the Royal Bolton Hospital, and nurses who were driving from the hospital.

PC David Dale, who investigated the scene, said although the bike was in poor condition, there was no evidence of mechanical failure — but the weather was one of the worst nights of last year, with high winds and rain.

The court heard that Mr Gee, of Rutherford Road, Over Hulton, had received help from Bolton Integrated Drug and Alcohol Service (BIDAS) since 2013 for long-term substance abuse including heroin, cannabis and cocaine.

He had received methadone treatment and had traces of both illegal and prescription drugs in his system, but not enough to cause his death.

Recording a verdict of death in a road traffic collision, Mr Walsh said: "Foster had a challenging youth and challenging life.

"He had setbacks arising from the death of his mother and father but he had a close relationship with his sister and brother.

"From the toxicologist report he clearly had a number of medications and illicit drugs in his blood — he should not have been riding his bike.

"But I have to balance that with witness evidence. His overtaking manoeuvre was done without incident and without excess speed.

"I accept he was riding steadily and in a manner that would not have caused a collision. He was not driving dangerously or recklessly.

"I have the evidence from Christine and Robert that it is as though he didn't see it. The wet conditions were very bad."

Mr Gee's family, including sister Melanie and brother James, issued a statement via the police saying: "Thank you to everybody that stopped to help and thank you to the coroner for his fair summary of events. We are grateful for everything that they have said."