A motorcyclist who died after hitting a wall has been named for the first time.

Austin Carter died on October 19 after crashing his Orange Honda CBR motorbike in Walderslade Road, Chatham, on his way to carry out life-saving work.

An inquest into his death was opened by Medway and Kent area coroner Ian Potter at Oakwood House this morning (October 29).

He told the court the 45-year-old, who worked as a first aid trainer, left his home in nearby Foxglove Crescent to go to work and was last seen by his daughter at 6.15am.

The motorcyclist collided with the boundary wall of a property, and a member of the public found him.

Police, paramedics and firefighters were all sent to the scene, near to the junction with Magpie Hall Road and The Ridgeway.

In the following days, flowers and written notes were left at the scene in tribute to the motorcyclist.

One said: “Loved you always. You will be missed so much.”

Another added: “In memory of Austin. God bless. He was a mature man in his 40s on his way to work. It is just so sad.

“He was a good guy and a family man. It is one of those tragedies.”

Walderslade Road residents, Graham and Barbara Hatton, also paid tribute and passed on their condolences to the man’s family.

Barbara said: “The emergency services did their best to save him.

“Austin got the best care he could. Our hearts go out to his family.”

Their neighbour, Bradley Collins, added: “It is desperately sad. It is awful, I feel so bad for his family.”

The inquest was adjourned until March 24.