An inquest has opened into the death of a 19-year-old motorbike enthusiast. Joshua Luke Sharpe, from Rishton, died on June 22 at the Astley Raceway MX in Tyldesley. Last month, his family released a heartfelt tribute to him, describing him as a much-loved "son, brother and loving partner".
Bolton Coroners’ Court heard from a police coroners’ officer that Joshua, who was a drainage engineer living on Hermitage Street, Rishton, had been participating in an off-road motorcycle track run at the time of his death. After riding over the first jump with no issue, he was thrown from his motorcycle after the second jump, coming to a rest on the side of the track. The court heard that patrons of the raceway had come to Joshua’s aid, but that he was pronounced dead by Dr Hilary Eason at the scene.
Pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd determined Joshua’s cause of death to be a head injury in a post-mortem examination at Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan. The police coroners’ officer said an investigation had determined there did not appear to be any suspicious circumstances in the death. The inquest was adjourned for five months, with a provisional hearing set for December 9.
A forensic reconstruction of the incident is set to take place, with coroner Timothy W Brennand requiring updates every 56 days. Coroner Brennand said the inquest would need to see a report from the organisers of the sporting event, land owners, and all potential interested persons, including a statement f.
