Mystery remains over the death of a man who fell from a bridge as he made his way to a restaurant for breakfast.

Derek Gane fractured his pelvis, ribs and several vertebrae when he fell from a footbridge over the M20 at Aylesford in August.

The 69-year-old’s condition worsened over a four-day period and, as a result, he suffered multiple organ failure and died at King’s College Hospital on August 17.

Detectives launched an investigation and appealed to the public to help piece together the moments leading up to the discovery of Mr Gane at the bottom of the footbridge off Station Road.

During an inquest at Archbishop’s Palace in Maidstone, Ian Wade, assistant coroner, heard a motorist and a dog walker had stopped to help the retired civil engineer on August 14 at around 10.30am.

DS Neil Martin said: “Derek had been out walking on the day in question. On Mondays he walks to Papa’s restaurant for his breakfast.

“The electrical substation has a camera that looks out and we managed to obtain footage from that camera which showed a male falling from a height that was consistent with the bridge.”

Det Sgt Martin also told the inquest that the railings only came up to the hip while suggesting one theory could have been that Mr Gane suffered a medical episode while walking across the bridge.

Any foul play or third party involvement was ruled out and Mr Wade, recording a narrative conclusion, told Mr Gane’s family that the reasons he fell from 20ft will never be known.

He said: “There is nothing to suggest he was pushed. There is nothing to suggest he was attacked and thrown.

“The reality is Derek didn’t know what had happened. He was confused and suffering injuries a 20ft fall is likely to cause.

“I am left with not knowing exactly how it came to be that Derek fell. I don’t know why he was at the edge of the footpath.”

Mr Gane’s wife Anita thanked the people who helped Mr Gane at the bottom of the footbridge and paid tribute to “a wonderful man”.

She also wished to thank DS Martin and Mr Wade for their help during the investigation and inquest.

Mrs Gane said: “He was a very good person and if he could help anybody, then he would. He was a very kind man and he looked after me.”