chest, a Coroner's inquest learned yesterday.

Fifteen-year-old Winston William Paynter, who was thrown from his motorbike into a stone pillar on Middle Road, Southampton, in the early hours of New Year's Day, 1995, suffered a ruptured right atrium and a broken rib, Dr. James Johnston, a consulting pathologist at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, told Coroner Edward Bailey.

The youth was disoriented and combative while in the ambulance and had stopped breathing by the time he reached hospital. He was pronounced dead at 2.08 a.m., Dr. Johnston said.

In addition to the chest injury, Winston received a deep gash to the chin and several minor cuts and scrapes. Urine samples proved negative for alchohol, Dr. Johnston said, although trace amounts of cannabis were present.

The inquiry heard from six witnesses, including Winston's passenger, Farrad Furquan, who suffered a cut lip and scrapped knees in the accident.

He told the inquest he met Winston at the Harmony Club earlier that evening before heading out with friends Raymond Burgess, Ginell Darrell, and Burnell Simons.

Farrad testified that prior to the accident Winston and he were following Burgess' blue Honda City Express and were "boosting'' the lead cycle to make it go faster. He estimated their speed at 55 kph.

"Boosting'' means to push another bike with the foot, Farrad explained under questioning by Coroner's Officer Sgt. Rex Osborne.

The group, on three bikes and travelling west on Middle Road, then overtook a car. Shortly after, Winston's red Suzuki Address began to wobble.

Winston lost control and the cycle slid, striking a stone pillar at 42 Middle Road, near Jennings Bay Road.

However a witness to the fatality, Mr. Melvyn Bassett, testified he was in a long line of cars heading west on Middle Road when he heard the bikes come up fast from the rear.

"They came in front very quickly and my impression is the wobbling may have been caused by an attempt to avoid each other. I heard them coming and could see that there was an oncoming car and anticipated there would be a problem.'' Mr. Bassett said as the bikes pulled back into westbound lane Winston's red Suzuki collided with the Honda. He estimated the bikes were going at 30 to 35 kph. Under questioning by Sgt. Osborne however, Mr. Bassett said he wasn't sure if the bikes actually touched or attempted to avoid each other before losing control.

Police traffic officer P.c. Gary Venning testified he arrived on the scene two hours after the accident and said the road was straight and in good condition.

Although the vehicles had been moved by then skid and scrape marks on the road, pillar, and wall indicated the near side of Winston's Suzuki collided with the corner of the pillar at 42 Middle Road and remained in contact with the adjoining wall.

Mr. Bailey adjourned the inquest until Monday.