An accident which killed a 31-year-old motorcyclist in Wimbledon may have been caused by a flat tyre, an inquest has heard.

New Zealander Craig Paine died in December after coming off his motorbike and hitting a car while riding back from a gym session.

This week a colleague and friend described him as “one of the best guys you could ever work with”.

The Auckland-born man worked for an adventure tour company and was a keen traveller whose past trips included white water rafting in Zimbabwe.

Last Thursday an inquest at Westminster Coroners’ Court heard how at 10.46pm on December 10, Mr Paine came off his Piaggio motorbike in Alexandra Road, after braking and swerving to avoid a Ford Ka that pulled out of Rostrevor Road ahead of him.

While the vehicle slid along the road before coming to a stop, its rider hit the back of the car sustaining massive internal injuries.

The Durnsford Road resident died in St George’s Hospital, Tooting, at 3.22am the following day.

PC Mathew McCormack of the Catford Traffic Garage told the inquest his investigation showed the bike’s front tyre had been deflated, which might have made it more unstable.

He said: “It’s very difficult to remain upright on a motorcycle in these circumstances, even with an inflated tyre.”

The inquest heard a blind spot created by a parked van would have reduced the vision of the car driver, but she had not pulled out of the side road recklessly.

Danniell Saunders, a colleague of Mr Paine’s at West Kensington-based On the Go Travel, said: “He was always available for a chat or to help you out - he was one of the best guys you could ever work with. It was a dream job for him.”

Coroner Dr Shirley Radcliffe recorded a death from multiple injuries as the result of an accident.