Yorkshire teen who was coached by Gareth Southgate tragically died in motorbike crash in Thailand

Anthony Ryan, 17, travelled to the holiday hotspot after his boss Jonathan Bond invited him on an all-expenses paid trip for his birthday in January 2019.

Bradford Coroner’s Court heard how Anthony "wanted to race" down a hill and began to "swerve left to right" before the shocking collision which killed him on January 24.

The pair had arrived in Thailand the day before, and decided to rent motorbikes just hours before the crash.

The court was told Jonathan rented the bikes with his license as Anthony didn’t have his provisional license yet.

Anthony, from Bradford, had been traveling downhill on a Honda Zoomer-X with Jonathan trailing behind him when he suddenly lost control of the bike in the rain.

He suddenly swerved into the incoming minivan at around 20mph and was flung across the road while shattered glass and debris scattered across the road, the court heard.

Emergency services rushed to the scene within minutes but Anthony sadly died from his injuries at Patong Hospital a short time later.

Thai police confirmed that Anthony "wilfully rode the bike without due care before colliding with a minivan driver" before his tragic death at around 9pm that evening.

Jonathan, who met Anthony when the teenager moved to Cornwall, said he "didn’t want to ride a bike at all" but later admitted "it’s my fault at the end of the day".

Jonathan said: “I wasn’t keen on riding a motorbike in Thailand. We all make stupid mistakes. I don’t want to blame Anthony, but he was swerving left to right. I told him to stop that.

“I said mate you’ve got to stop doing that. I don’t know these roads. When the crash happened, I saw the front of the minibus, and I ran back to Anthony. There was debris everywhere.

“It was just horrendous. It’s my fault at the end of the day.”

Speaking during the inquest, Anthony’s tearful mother Clare Wright said she was "angry" at Jonathan as he was supposed to be "my son’s guardian".

She said: “He knew Anthony didn’t have his license. The store didn’t check any documents before allowing my son to ride a powerful motorcycle. I’m angry with him. He knew Anthony. He was my son’s guardian.”

Senior Coroner Martin Fleming told Jonathan he was the "responsible adult" who let Anthony ride the bike when it was "not the safest place in the world to ride a motorbike".

Mr Fleming said: “It’s not the safest place in the world to ride a motorbike. You were the responsible adult. You had three occasions to tell him enough is enough.”

Anthony had recently moved to Cornwall to start work as a labourer and had planned to start a college business course.

Mr Fleming said Anthony was a "wonderful son" who "seemed to be thriving" before his untimely death.

He concluded that the teenager’s death was as a result of a road traffic collision.

Mr Fleming said: “Anthony was a wonderful son. He had so many friends. He was a hard worker. He seemed to be thriving. He had a job lined up and had intentions to go to college.

“His life was cut short with so much promise, and he has left his mother and family devastated. According to the driver of the oncoming minivan, he saw Anthony’s motorcycle approaching from the opposite side at speed and encroached into his lane.

“His death was a result from the multiple injuries suffered from the crash. Anthony was a little excited on the motorcycle. There are so many reasons in hindsight, as he did not have a valid license, and Mr Bond had several opportunities to say that’s enough.

“Having considered the totality of the evidence, he died as a result of a road traffic collision.

“To lose your son, a popular lad, in these sudden and unexpected circumstances must be so difficult for you to bear. If you can accept my sincerest condolences. The great tragedy here is that he was so young when he lost his life, and he showed so much promise.”

England manager Gareth Southgate had paid a heartfelt tribute to the young lad who he met during a coaching session at the boy's school in Bradford in 2014.

At the time, he said Anthony's passing was "incredibly sad" and described it as a "reminder to us all to make the most of everyday".

A picture shows the youngster, who was around 12 or 13 at the time, alongside Southgate, who was then the England under-21 manager.

His letter was read out during the service by Lyndsey Brown, head teacher at Oastlers School in Bradford, where Anthony was a student.

It said: "I just wanted to write to you all having heard the incredibly sad news about Anthony. Sean Reagan (Anthony's old PE teacher) sent me a picture of the day I came up to visit and Anthony was involved in that training session.

"I know this will have been a difficult time for you all and it will be really hard to move forward. I am sure you will all pay your respects in the appropriate way and you will all be there to support Anthony's family.

"What has happened is a reminder to us all to make the most of every day."