AN inquest heard tributes to a much-loved Carlisle teenager who was riding an off-road motorcycle when he lost control and was fatally injured 100 metres from his home.

Reuben Price, 16, of Borland Avenue, died on December 2, 2021, on Holywell Crescent.

At an inquest in Cockermouth today, coroner Robert Cohen heard that Reuben had been given the bike five weeks' earlier.

His parents, aunt and grandfather were at the inquest on Tuesday. Reuben should have been flying off on holiday with his aunt that day, said mum Cheryl.

Reuben had been a popular pupil at Richard Rose Central Academy before going to Carlisle College where he was studying construction, the inquest heard.

"He was enjoying that and doing really well," said Mrs Price.

"He enjoyed being with his friends and was inseparable from his girlfriend Becky. He liked doing jobs with his dad.

"He was a mam's boy and would do anything to help me. We were extremely close."

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Reuben had five siblings. "He was a lovely family man. He was sensible for his age and was the man of the house," said Mrs Price.

"He looked after us all and loved being home with the family.

"He was loved by so many people - friends and teachers. No one had a bad word to say about him.

"I'm heartbroken."

In October his dad bought him an off-road bike "for use on private land and motor cross trails", said Mrs Price. He was not experienced, she said.

On the day of the accident, Reuben had been at college and was later preparing to celebrate his girlfriend's birthday, said Mrs Price.

His birthday was the following day.

She had been with Reuben but had to nip out in her car for five minutes, said Mrs Price.

She had told Reuben before leaving that he should not ride the motorbike, she said.

As she returned home a few minutes later she got a call from her distraught daughter. "I saw people on the street and blue flashing lights and police. I ran down the road and discovered Reuben," she said.

"He was 100 metres from home, I could not believe what had happened."

The inquest heard Reuben had been riding on Holywell Crescent when he hit a kerb, lost control and crashed into a lamppost, suffering fatal injuries. He was not wearing a helmet. He was declared deceased at the scene.

A toxicology report revealed there was no alcohol or drugs in his system.

A post mortem gave the medical cause of death as "head injury".

Police carried out a forensic collision investigation. They examined the scene, CCTV footage and heard statements from witnesses.

Reuben rode across Holywell Crescent where a kerb stone caused his motorbike to be airborne, the inquest heard. He then came back into contact with the ground and hit another kerb, losing control and hitting a lamppost.

The forensic collision investigator concluded "the accident was caused by an inexperienced driver driving in a manner that was reckless".

Mr Cohen concluded Reuben's death was a result of a "road traffic collision".

"It's all too apparent how grief stricken all of Reuben's family and loved ones are," he said.

"It's a dreadful thing that a 16-year-old lad has died. His death has had a huge impact."

In his summing up, Mr Cohen said: "He was a gregarious and caring individual. His mother told us about the effort he made to look after her which is a huge credit to him.

"She had told him not to ride his motorbike because she was worried he would injure himself. A few minutes later she had returned and encountered an exceptionally distressing scene - Reuben lying on the pavement with emergency services trying to revive him."

He added: "Clearly you have suffered a dreadful bereavement and I'm so very sorry for you loss."

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