Elm footballer Harvey Wilson died in motorbike crash at West Walton, inquest hears

A 19-year-old described as “a great lad” died after crashing the off-road motorbike he had purchased just one week earlier.

Harvey Wilson was driving the illegal bike along Mill Road in West Walton on July 8 last year when he lost control and fell onto the wrong side of the road.

He collided with an oncoming van and suffered life-threatening injuries. He later passed away at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Lynn.

Today, an inquest at Norfolk Coroner’s Court concluded that his primary cause of death was traumatic head injuries as a result of a road traffic collision.

Area coroner Johanna Thompson said: “I would like to offer my most sincere condolences to Harvey’s family and friends.”

The hearing was told that Harvey, a keen footballer who lived in Elm, had jointly purchased the off-road motorbike with a friend last summer.

However, subsequent police investigations revealed the Motocross vehicle was not suitable for ordinary highways - while Harvey also did not hold a motorcycle licence.

On the day of his death, he had been driving through West Walton in the direction of Walpole St Andrew when he lost control and fell onto the opposite side of the road.

The inquest heard he had been travelling around a “gentle curving” bend in a stretch which was subject to a 30mph speed limit.

The driver of the van he collided with later gave a statement in which he said he felt Harvey was driving “way too fast”.

“I can’t say how fast, but from what I saw it just looked too fast,” he said.

Harvey was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, but forensic examinations suggested it had not been fastened properly and therefore came off during the collision.

The bike only suffered minor damage, as did the van.

A blood test revealed Harvey had 34mcg of benzoylecgonine, the primary metabolite of cocaine, per litre of blood. The legal limit to drive is 50mcg.

The inquest heard this meant it was likely Harvey had used cocaine “some time prior” to the crash and that it was unlikely to have had an impact on his driving, although this could not be ruled out entirely.

Ms Thompson said the previous drug use, the lack of a properly-fastened helmet, Harvey not holding a motorcycle licence and the unsuitability of the off-road bike all may have contributed to the collision.

Meanwhile, one of his friends informed the police that, as the pair of motorcycle boots they owned were too big for Harvey, he wore Wellington boots instead.

However, the friend stressed that Harvey was comfortable riding the bike and had used it on numerous occasions, even before purchasing it.

Ms Thompson added: “The exact reason Mr Wilson lost control of his motorcycle is unknown.”

Harvey, who was born in Lynn in 2005, was a trainee electrician.

His funeral took place on July 26 last year at All Saints Church in Elm, with a family fundraiser gathering donations for the East Anglian Air Ambulance charity.

It has so far raised £1,725.

One person who donated said: “We have some great memories with you Harvey, such a great lad.”

A statement from one of the football teams he played for said: “Sending our love and support from all the boys that played with Harvey for Mildenhall Town FC and from the coaches and parents.

“Harvey will always be remembered and missed by us all.”

Another person described him as a “wonderful young man”.