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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Barriers 'would have saved Norwich cyclist's life' | Barriers 'would have saved Norwich cyclist's life' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The family of a cyclist who died of serious brain injuries after crashing down steep steps claimed he would still be alive if the steps had been visible. | The family of a cyclist who died of serious brain injuries after crashing down steep steps claimed he would still be alive if the steps had been visible. |
| Warren Dowling, 32, was cycling home in Norwich at 00:18 GMT on 28 May when he failed to see the steps ahead. | Warren Dowling, 32, was cycling home in Norwich at 00:18 GMT on 28 May when he failed to see the steps ahead. |
| An inquest heard the path was poorly lit, overgrown and that the steps could not be seen before their approach. | An inquest heard the path was poorly lit, overgrown and that the steps could not be seen before their approach. |
| Coroner Yvonne Blake concluded a narrative verdict at Norwich Coroner's Court. | Coroner Yvonne Blake concluded a narrative verdict at Norwich Coroner's Court. |
| She said the medical cause of death was multiple traumatic head injuries, due to after falling down steps while on a bicycle and having some alcohol consumption. | She said the medical cause of death was multiple traumatic head injuries, due to after falling down steps while on a bicycle and having some alcohol consumption. |
| Mr Dowling had not been wearing a cycle helmet and was declared dead at the scene by paramedics having also had a cardiac arrest. | Mr Dowling had not been wearing a cycle helmet and was declared dead at the scene by paramedics having also had a cardiac arrest. |
| He had a blood alcohol level of 216mg per 100ml, the legal limit for driving is 80mg. | He had a blood alcohol level of 216mg per 100ml, the legal limit for driving is 80mg. |
| Since Mr Dowling's death barriers to slow down cyclists have been erected before the steps along The Loke. | Since Mr Dowling's death barriers to slow down cyclists have been erected before the steps along The Loke. |
| His father Patrick Dowling told the inquest his son would not have got on his bike if he was drunk and had never been down the pathway before. | His father Patrick Dowling told the inquest his son would not have got on his bike if he was drunk and had never been down the pathway before. |
| "My son would be alive today if proper measures had been put in place to identify the steps, like the staggered barriers that are there now," he said. | "My son would be alive today if proper measures had been put in place to identify the steps, like the staggered barriers that are there now," he said. |
| The Loke is a byway for pedestrians but Mr Dorling's father said they had been told by locals that it was used regularly by cyclists. | |
| Representatives from Norwich City and Norfolk County Council were instructed by the coroner to inform her officially whether The Loke had been signposted as a cycleway from Whistlefish Court, a road nearby. | Representatives from Norwich City and Norfolk County Council were instructed by the coroner to inform her officially whether The Loke had been signposted as a cycleway from Whistlefish Court, a road nearby. |
| They were also asked to check if another pathway in Mile Cross had similar steps without staggered barriers "to stop anyone from catapulting down there too". | They were also asked to check if another pathway in Mile Cross had similar steps without staggered barriers "to stop anyone from catapulting down there too". |
| The coroner said councils could not "babysit everyone on a bike or urge them to slow down and wear a helmet", but added it was "not within the bounds of possibility that this could happen again". | The coroner said councils could not "babysit everyone on a bike or urge them to slow down and wear a helmet", but added it was "not within the bounds of possibility that this could happen again". |