Marshal's death after road racing crash accidental

Liam Clarke was visiting the island to volunteer as a marshal during the 2023 event

The death of a marshal who was struck by a barrier after a motorcycle crash during last year's Southern 100 road races was an accident, an inquest has found.

Liam Clarke died after being hit by the metal structure, which had been pushed by racer Alan Connor's bike at the end of a qualifying session on 11 July 2023.

A separate inquest into Mr Connor's death found he had crashed on Bypass Road in Castletown after missing a chequered flag signally he should slow down, causing his machine to go into the barrier.

Coroner James Brooks said while being a marshal "carried risks" the 66-year-old had not been "undertaking a risky part of his role" at the time.

Mr Clarke, who was originally from Londonderry, had travelled to the island from his home in Wigan to volunteer at the event.

While it was his first time marshalling at the Southern 100 event, he had marshalled at the Isle of Man TT races in 2022.

Low risk area

The inquest heard Mr Clarke had been situated at a post called the pump house for the second evening in a row and his role was primarily for crowd control.

When Mr Connor's machine left the course after it collided with another motorbike, it made contact with metal barriers, which in turn hit Mr Clarke, throwing him into the air.

One witness likened the scene of the crash to that of a "bomb blast".

The 66-year-old died of head, spinal and chest injuries as a result of blunt force trauma, the hearing was told.

Clerk of the course Giles Olley told the hearing the area was considered low risk at the time, and while metal barriers were used to delineate where the course was, they were not designed for crash protection.

Since the crash the site had been made a prohibited area and 1,312ft (400m) of water filled plastic barriers had been put in place for the 2024 event, along with fencing to prevent vehicles or debris from leaving the course, he added.

In a witness statement read to the court, fellow marshal Gemma White described Mr Clarke as "a big bubble of happiness".

"I hope that is the way he is remembered," she added.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Brooks passed on his condolences to Mr Clarke's family.