A cyclist halfway through completing a charity ride across THREE continents died from a severe head injury after being hit by a 4x4, an inquest heard.
Adventurous Sharon Bridgman was struck by a maroon Toyota Land Cruiser on a dirt track near the world's largest salt flats in Bolivia.
The 38-year-old addiction councillor was cycling about 200 metres behind her husband, Tim Bridgman, on soft sand when the accident occurred on April 26, 2014.
Her husband Tim is now planning to take the heart-breaking journey back to Bolivia to complete the rest of the trip later this year.
He told the inquest in Exeter, Devon, about his desperate efforts to save his wife.
And he said her death had made him feel like he was living in a "giant fuzzy bubble turned upside down".
He said: "I used to look around every so often to check her.
"I saw a maroon Toyota Land Cruiser had stopped but I thought they were just chatting.
"Then another vehicle stopped. It drove up to me and told me she had been in an accident."
When Tim got to his wife he could see that her leg was broken and pelvis was twisted.
Sharon's helmet was found a few metres away cracked in two.
Tim added: "There was lots of blood around her head. Her bike was 20 to 30 metres away."
Although the couple, from Zeal Monachorum, Devon, were travelling with special equipment that could call emergency services, it still took police five hours to get to the remote spot.
When they arrived the driver was arrested and Sharon was taken to Hospital Jose Eduardo Perez, in Uyuni, where a post-mortem examination took place.
A Bolivian post-mortem examination concluded that she died from a severe fracture to her left leg, poly trauma and cranial trauma.
Buts tests back in the UK concluded that she died from a base of skull fracture.
At the time of the crash, Tim and Sharon had already been riding for 15 months and had travelled from Norway to South Africa.
They started the second leg, in South America, on November 14, 2013.
The plan was to raise #10,000 by the end of their trip - but donations soared to more than #13,250 as news of the tragic accident broke.
Tim wrote on their JustGiving page after her death: "Having such a love for life and everyone she met it is hard to believe she is gone.
"The last six weeks have involved learning words in Spanish I never wanted to learn and doing jobs I never would wish on anyone.
"Sharon's funeral and the messages from around the world were testament to how many people who were touched by Sharon's life and loved her for who she was."
Lydia Brown, assistant coroner at Exeter, said: "Sharon died in a road traffic accident during a cycle ride for charity.
"The exact circumstances of the accident could not be ascertained.
"She died from her injuries on impact.
"We have not done Sharon justice but I do not think there are enough days in the month or months in the year to do that."
Sharon's mother Wendy Pitts told the inquest: "It was their dream and we were behind them 100 per cent.
"We thought a lot of Tim before but we think even more of him now.
"She would not have wanted to suffer. She would not have wanted to be injured."
Several pledges were made by members of the public who had been touched by the tragedy.
Kevin Spiers, who donated ?25, wrote: "Hi Tim. I was so sorry when I heard about your tragic loss. Sharon was a lovely person and always had time for everyone, she will be greatly missed."
Lesli Gordon, who donated $100, wrote: "Our 4x4 came upon Sharon and Tim less than an hour after the accident.
"Our guide Gabrielle stayed there for hours helping Tim. I've been haunted by this tragedy and I wish I could do more."
The driver involved in the crash was given a three-year suspended sentence in Bolivia.
