MYSTERY still surrounds the death of a cyclist found lying in the road with multiple injuries, an inquest heard.

Rodney Howes, 62, was discovered in Stalisfield Road, Charing, near Ashford, by motorist Susan Baldock at about 9.55am on August 30 last year.

Mrs Baldock said she was driving to work when she spotted what she thought was a log in the road.

“Initially I thought it was a set-up and I was cautious about getting out of my car,” she told the inquest at Ashford.

As she walked over she saw 62-year-old Mr Howes who, although lying unconscious, was still astride his bike. She immediately dialled 999.

“I was talking to him, saying 'you are not on your own’. I am a Christian and I prayed to myself. I said to him 'please do not stop breathing’ and he took a breath.”

Mrs Baldock said she attempted to put Mr Howes, a part-time university lecturer, in the recovery position and then got some towels out of her car and wrapped them around his head wound.

Mr Howes was taken by ambulance to Ashford's William Harvey Hospital where he later died.

PC Damian Mutch, of Kent Police’s forensic investigation team described Mr Howes as a 'very experienced cyclist’.

He said Mr Howes, of The Lees, Challock, near Ashford, was riding a 21-gear multi-track bicycle which was in good condition.

PC Mutch said Mr Howes had been cycling down a 1:8 gradient hill but that the bicycle had not been involved in a collision with any other vehicle.

He said he could not say whether Mr Howes had gone over the handlebars or whether an animal track that crossed the road could have meant any form of wildlife was a factor.

Pathologist Dr Charles Lawson, who carried out the post mortem, said Mr Howes had suffered multiple injuries and gave the cause of death as a severe head injury.

Deputy coroner Christine Freedman said: “This is a tragic case. We do not know precisely what happened. For some reason Mr Howes lost control of his bicycle and fell. He sustained dreadful injuries from which he could not have survived.”

She recorded a verdict of accidental death.