A TEENAGER may have fainted before he suffered a fatal fall while riding his motorbike on a beach, an inquest heard.

Michael Sadler, 15, died from traumatic head injuries when he fell from his motocross bike while riding with his father in South Gare, Redcar, in June last year.

The court heard how his father, also called Michael, tried to resuscitate his son but the teenager was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

The teenager, from Yarm, was described as an “experienced and passionate” rider who had been training and competing for several years.

On the night of the incident, he was practising with his dad at South Gare and, as always, was fully kitted out in appropriate safety gear, including a helmet, neck brace, body armour, knee braces, boots, gloves and goggles.

The inquest heard that when Michael was 12 he was diagnosed with a cyst on his brain and underwent surgery, which included inserting a shunt.

Following the surgery his father said he suffered from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and regular headaches.

On the day of the accident he said Michael had complained of a headache and dizziness.

But Home Office pathologist Dr David Scoones, believed there was no link between the accident and Michael’s previous surgery.

He said he couldn’t exclude the possibility the teenager could have suffered an epileptic fit before he came off the bike, but that would be speculation.

Acting Teesside Coroner Clare Bailey gave a narrative verdict.

She said: “On June 12, 2015, Michael Sadler was riding his motorbike under supervision with his father on South Gare.

“For reasons unknown he came off his motorbike and sustained traumatic head injuries and died at the scene.”