A WELL-KNOWN amateur athlete who died on holiday in Dubai had been enjoying a night out with a friend when he was hit by car, an inquest has heard.

Gavin Duffy, who was 29 and from Billingham, had been getting out of a car in the city when he was hit by a car on November 22 last year, Teesside assistant coroner, Malcolm Donnelly was told.

The driver of the car, a Brazilian national, was convicted of road traffic offences following the death and received a four month sentence.

After the inquest his father, Michael Duffy, paid tribute to "wonderful people of Teesside" who had donated to a fund enabling the family to fly his body home and donate left over money from the £17,000 total to charities in his name.

Mr Duffy, a quantity surveyor was on holiday in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) city when he died on Friday, November 22, 2013.

In the inquest Mr Donnelly expressed his disappointment that the British Embassy was not able to provide more details of the exact circumstances of the death.

A British Embassy report explained that Mr Donnelly had been out for a meal with a friend when he was struck getting out of a taxi.

The driver was convicted of three offences under UAE law, including endangering life. He was first imprisoned for two months but that was increased to four on appeal. He was also fined and banned from driving for six months.

A pathologist report showed that Mr Duffy had sustained massive injuries consistent with a pedestrian being hit by a car, including damage to his liver, heart, a skull fracture and internal bleeding.

Mr Donnelly recorded a narrative verdict which read: "Mr Duffy died of of injuries sustained as a pedestrian having been struck by a motor vehicle."

In the inquest Mr Duffy's father had expressed a hope he might have more information of the car collision.

Afterwards he said the support received from people across Teesside had been a "real comfort" to the family.

Previously the family have described Mr Duffy as a "happy and kind" man.

Mr Duffy was well known as a member of the Billingham Marsh House Harriers and keen Middlesbrough FC fan and leaves two brothers and a sister.