A MAN visiting France to watch the Le Mans grand prix last year died while on a mercy mission, an inquest heard. Simon Beadsworth had gone to help friends whose car had broken down. The weather was atrocious and on the way back his vehicle crashed while o

A MAN visiting France to watch the Le Mans grand prix last year died while on a mercy mission, an inquest heard.

Simon Beadsworth had gone to help friends whose car had broken down.

The weather was atrocious and on the way back his vehicle crashed while overtaking a lorry.

The story of the 46-year-old's last journey was told at the inquest held in Hatfield.

Coroner Edward Thomas said last week that Mr Beadsworth, of Manor Way, Letchworth GC, had gone to France with friends in June to watch the race.

He had reached the hotel but when he heard that his friends' car had broken down on the way he retraced his route to collect them.

Mr Thomas said: "It was on the return from collecting them that the incident occurred on the A28 road between Abbeville and Rouen.

"While overtaking a lorry the car appears to have overturned and it was at that stage that the fatal injuries occurred."

The accident happened at about 7pm on June 15 and the weather conditions at the time were extremely poor with torrential rain. The water on the road made driving conditions dangerous.

Mr Beadsworth was confirmed dead at the Hospital Neufchatel En Bray in Normandy.

The coroner said a post mortem confirmed Mr Beadsworth died of multiple injuries.

Verdict: Accidental.