Former champion Wolverhampton jockey died after dashing in front of car
A former champion jockey from Wolverhampton died after dashing into a busy road and being hit by a car, an inquest heard.
Anthony Shrive, aged 76, suffered serious injuries after being thrown into the air and landing head-first on Wergs Road, Tettenhall in February last year.
He died almost two weeks later in hospital.
Mr Shrive, of Regis Road, Tettenhall, was a celebrated jockey in the 1950s winning the Stewards Cup at Goodwood in 1954 on a 50-1 chance.
The former Tettenhall College student was also named the country's champion apprentice in the same year.
He was also a six-time champion jockey in Pakistan, where he lived between 1962 and 1977. During his time abroad he won around 800 races. He also once rode for the Queen.
During a hearing at Smethwick Coroners Court witnesses described their horror as they watched Mr Shrive dart in front of a BMW before its driver was able to brake on February 10, 2012.
Witness Timothy Vickers who was heading towards the city centre when the accident happened said he saw Mr Shrive looking "unsteady" as he came down steps from Tettenhall Green, adding: "I could almost see what was going to happen. He got to the edge of the pavement and made one big dash forward. I could see the car was there within two feet. It didn't stand a chance of stopping. I looked in the mirror and I could see the gentleman what looked to be 10 feet in the air, upside down – and he came down head first."
Mr Vickers said he rushed to assist Mr Shrive who he said smelt of alcohol. He added: "I think the first police on the scene wanted to breathalyse him. He said, 'There is no need; it's my own fault'."
The driver, Mark Morris, aged 54, told the inquest: "I didn't expect him to cross the road like that. It happened so fast."
Mr Shrive was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham and he developed aspiration pneumonia. Black Country Coroner Robin Balmain ruled his death was due to the road accident.
