A Belgian student on holiday in Ireland died of a head injury when he jumped from a moving minibus to retrieve a jacket which had blown out of it, Dublin City Coroner's Court heard.
Mr Bartel Vandenwijngaert (17), of Mechelen, was with five friends when the accident happened between Westport and Leenane last July 6th. He was taken to Castlebar General Hospital and transferred to Beaumont Hospital, where he died on July 9th.
His friends, in depositions read to the inquest, said he opened the side door to get some fresh air. A jacket blew out and, as the minibus slowed, Mr Vandenwijngaert jumped out to get it. "He landed on his feet but stumbled and fell on his backside. Then his head hit the ground and he lay still," Mr Carl Liemaans said in his statement.
A pathologist, Dr Francesca Brett, said the post-mortem examination showed Mr Vandenwijngaert died of a closed head injury.
Dr Brian Farrell, Coroner, said he wanted to communicate with the dead teenager's family before closing the inquest. He adjourned the hearing to October 15th.
