A biker died on March 1 after a large pheasant struck him while he was riding, an inquest heard. Andrew Davenport, 47, was traveling on the A454 near Bridgnorth in Shropshire when the bird flew into his path.
Witnesses reported an 'explosion of feathers' and stated Davenport appeared to lose consciousness, becoming 'floppy' over the handlebars. He then collided with a roadside sign, sustaining a fatal head injury. Police, paramedics, and an air ambulance responded to the scene, but Davenport was pronounced dead at 1:28 p.m. after advanced life support was administered.
The inquest was told that toxicology reports found no drugs or alcohol in his system, visibility was good, and road conditions were not a factor. John Ellery, senior coroner for Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, concluded that the impact with the road sign, not the pheasant itself, caused the fatal head injury. He described the incident as a 'tragedy' involving two 'incredibly unlucky' events: the pheasant strike and the subsequent collision with the sign.
Davenport, who was from Pattingham in Staffordshire, was described by a couple on a motorbike he waved to shortly before the collision as riding in a 'calm, steady and competent' manner. He was a bodybuilder, DJ, and businessman, known for running events such as the Crooked House Festival and a rave at Shrewsbury Prison. His wife, Aine, remembered him as 'loud,' 'full of wisdom,' and 'a really beautiful man.' His mother and father also spoke of his achievements and zest for life.
Davenport's funeral was attended by approximately 400 people on April 17 at Telford Crematorium.