A man who died after being struck by a lorry on the motorway is said to have “jumped from a moving vehicle” into the carriageway, a court heard.

An inquest has opened into the death of James Lawlor, from Canterbury, who died after he was “struck” on the M2 coastbound near Faversham.

Coroner Bina Patel started inquest proceedings into the 50-year-old’s death at Oakwood House in Maidstone earlier this month.

It followed the incident between Junction 5 (Sittingbourne) and Junction 6 (Faversham) on November 20.

The court heard police had received multiple calls from members of the public travelling along the carriageway stating that a person had been “struck”.

Officers located the body of labourer Mr Lawlor, of Mayfly Close, Canterbury and he was declared deceased at 8.32pm.

Ms Patel went on to say that at 8.58pm police officers received a call from South East Coast Ambulance Service which reported a call from a woman stating she was Mr Lawlor’s partner.

She told paramedics while she was driving on the motorway she had pulled over and Mr Lawlor had “jumped out of a moving vehicle”.

Ms Patel gave the cause of death as “severe multiple injuries” due to a road traffic accident.

She said: “He has died in circumstances where investigation is necessary.

“I offer my sincere condolences in such tragic circumstances.”

At the time of the accident part of the M2 was shut for almost 24 hours for extensive accident investigation work.

A full inquest has been set for May 16.