Lord of the Rings fan died in NZ on 'dream' trip

Joseph Snode had studied film and TV production

A Lord of the Rings fan from the UK who was in New Zealand hitchhiking to locations used in the films was killed when a car crashed into a wall, a coroner ruled.

The family of 26-year-old backpacker Joseph Snode, from Westcliff-on-Sea, said he was "living his dream life" when he died on 28 January 2024.

He was on his way to Christchurch when the driver giving him a lift lost control of her vehicle, an inquest at Essex Coroner's Court in Chelmsford was told.

Area coroner Michelle Brown ruled Mr Snode, a bar manager at Buckinghamshire New University, died from multiple head and chest injuries.

The former film and TV production student had taken the job to fund the trip, which had included a trip to the Hobbiton set.

Ms Brown said Mr Snode had been "offered a lift by a lady and her teenage children".

The driver was later sentenced after admitting a charge of the careless use of a vehicle causing death.

No other vehicles were involved in the crash on the Otira Highway, Jacksons

The crash happened on New Zealand's South Island on the Otira Highway, near Jacksons railway station.

Mr Snode had been in the back of the car, the hearing was told.

"The car drifted to the left side of the road before overcorrecting, rotating and sliding across both lanes," Ms Brown said.

"The rear left of the car hit a stone wall. Mr Snode, who was in the left rear passenger seat, died at the scene."

Ms Brown said it was "unknown" how the driver came to crash the vehicle.

'One-in-a-billion'

Mr Snode's body was repatriated to the UK after a £10,000 fundraising campaign, which also covered the funeral costs.

On the campaign page, his mother, Elaine, wrote: "He was literally living his dream life before it was taken from him."

She said her son was "always full of life and a loving, caring, intelligent young man" who she described as "one-in-a-billion".

Ms Brown concluded Mr Snode's cause of death was a road traffic collision.