A SAILOR died instantly after being hit by a car as he tried to cross a busy road in Dubai after spending the night drinking and watching rugby, an inquest heard.

Michael Gamesby was enjoying a night out with friends while on leave in the Gulf state in February last year when he suffered horrific chest injuries in the accident.

The 23-year-old, marine engineer onboard HMS Cornwall, had been serving on a counter-piracy operation and the ship was moored in Dubai for a fortnight while routine maintenance was carried out.

Teesside Coroners Court heard the popular sailor, from Acklam, Middlesbrough, had spent the day relaxing and drinking at the Seaman’s Mission before heading to an Irish bar to watch the England versus France rugby game.

After the game Mr Gamesby tried to find a takeaway but the taxi he was travelling in, with friends Anthony Longstaff and Paul Dodds, got lost and they decided to get out and cross the busy road to get food.

The pair told the hearing how their friend made a run for it in an attempt to cross the road but all they heard a loud bang and saw their colleague thrown through the air due to the force of the impact.

Able Seaman Anthony Longstaff, who rushed into the road to check on his friend, said: “His eyes were open, I didn’t check to see if he was breathing but he seemed lifeless.

“I couldn’t feel a pulse, he didn’t make any noise and was completely still.”

Marine engineer Paul Dodds said: “Michael darted out across the road, all I heard was a loud screeching of tyres and heard a huge bang. I looked up and saw Michael’s body fly through the air at high speed.”

The court heard how he was taken to Rashid Hospital following the road accident but was pronounced dead on arrival.

A post-mortem examination revealed he had drank the equivalent of eight pints of beer but his friends said he didn’t appear to be drunk and was in a good mood throughout the day.

Pathologist Jan Lowe said Mr Gamesby would have died instantly and the cause of death was shock and haemorage, which occurred due to multiple injuries including a ruptured aorta from chest trauma.

Teesside Coroner Michael Sheffield recorded the verdict as death by accident.