A YOUNG holidaymaker, who was killed while on a quad bike abroad, was hit from behind by a driver more than two times over the drink driving limit, an inquest heard today.

James Fifield, 18, from Marlow, died in the early hours of Saturday, July 5, this year after celebrating finishing his A-Level studies with seven friends in Zante, Greece.

Details emerged earlier that James was travelling back to his hotel on a hired quad bike when a man who lived on the island crashed into him.

Coroner Richard Hulett told relatives the evidence from the Greek police report was sparse and not definitive, yet it did reveal that the other man was about two and a half times over the drink drive limit.

In recording a narrative verdict, he said: “He was riding a quad bike when his vehicle was hit from behind by another vehicle.

“I think I could say there is no doubt that he was struck from the rear by a driver who was intoxicated at the time, as judged by the Greek code.”

During the inquest a statement from two of James’ friends was read out and explained the former Wye Valley School student was allowed to drive the vehicle without a driving licence.

All of the boys had been given a helmet to wear and were warned they faced a fine if they ignored the rules, however they chose not to as other drivers were not, the statement said.

James' family also heard how the driver of the other vehicle did not give his statement regarding the events until 24 days after the collision and he was the only eye witness to the accident.

Invited to examine the Greek report, James Henderson, a Thames Valley Police forensic collision investigation officer, told the court of the driver being over the limit.

He said: “From the report it appears he is intoxicated and does not react to the quad bike. In this country it is illegal to drive above 80mg (80mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood) and for this his blood states his was 122mg.

“That is about 40(mg) over the English limit and as I understand for this driver in that car, the legal limit in Greece is 50mg.”

Since his death, the family have struggled to find details of the crash until they received a copy of the police report this week.

Before the official report was delivered the family knew little about the collision and through another holidaymaker they began a global witness appeal.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Slater and Gordon lawyer, Kieran Mitchell, said: “James was an extremely bright and popular young man who was enjoying a holiday with friends when his life was cruelly cut short by the actions of a drunk driver.

“To suffer the death of a loved one is always extremely distressing but to know that the death could and should have been avoided is simply heartbreaking.

“Though the inquest has provided the family with some of the answers they had regarding the circumstances that led to James’ death, they hope too that this tragic case can in some way serve as a warning to other motorists that drink driving can change lives in a split second.”