"A man took a "huge risk" by cycling down Boxley Hill without any brakes.

Mr Mark Titus, 35, of Silverweed Road, Chatham, died when he hit the verge at the bottom of the steep hill and was thrown through the air, suffering multiple injuries.

An inquest heard that when his widow Kelly Titus told their 8 year old daughter what had happened, she replied: "But daddy doesn't have any brakes on his bike. He uses his feet to stop."

Witness Alison Davis. of Rainham, was driving from Boxley Village on the afternoon of July 2nd and as she rounded the sharp bend at the bottom of the hill she saw a bike travelling "quite fast" before it crashed into the roadside.

Police investigator Terence Collins confirmed Mr Titus's bike had no brake blocks.

Coroner Roger Sykes said Mr Titus had taken a huge risk ad recorded a verdict of accidental death."

Submitted on 02/21/2009

Submitted by: Mark Brown
Reference: Downs Mail (Maidstone East Edition February 12th 2009) No. 142

Copyright © 2009 DarwinAwards.com

Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
The lack of brakes and relying on his feet is more than enough for me. Who did he think he was, Fred Flintstone? Thanks, Mark!

Candi said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
What gets me is his EIGHT-YEAR-OLD realized it was stupid!

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