AN AVID traveller from Dorset died as a result of a bicycle accident he suffered 34 years ago, an inquest heard.

Paul Anthony Kobryn died in hospital aged 51 on December 9 2019.

In 1986, he was riding a bike when a car hit him from behind and he suffered complete spinal cord injuries.

The accident was not Mr Kobryn’s fault but did affect his life expectancy.

He was told his life expectancy was just 60 years of age as a result of the crash.

Dorset coroner Brendan Allen told the inquest held on Thursday that Mr Kobryn was admitted to hospital on November 27 with a shortness of breath.

On arrival, doctors assured his wife, Sarah, it was nothing to worry about, scans found a small infection on his lung and he was discharged on December 4.

In a statement, Sarah said he didn’t look ill a day later, but was sleeping a lot.

She put him to bed and joined him half an hour later only to find him unresponsive.

Paramedics arrived and carried out CPR before arriving at RBH when doctors said there was nothing that could be done.

Paul remained on life support until December 9 until, as per his wishes, it was switched off.

The inquest heard when in hospital, Paul was found to have low oxygen levels and had type two respiratory failure.

Recording the cause of death, Mr Allen said Mr Kobryn, from Ferndown, died due to a hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy cardiac arrest, due to pneumonia, due to a spinal chord injury in 1986.

“He died as a result of a bicycle accident in 1986,” he said.

Mr Kobryn donated his organs after his death, including his liver and kidney.

The inquest was told Mr Kobryn loved to travel, and had visited most countries in Europe.

Aged 14, he was placed into foster care.

He worked as a disabled rights consultant, promoting disabled equality within health services.

He had no surviving relatives but had a step-son and step-daughter.