THE inquest into the tragic death of a 17-year-old who died in a motorcycle crash on Canvey opened this morning.

Denny Richardson died following a crash in Leigh Road on May 2.

The coroner's court heard Denny was riding a motorcycle when he was involved in a crash with a car reversing from a driveway.

Police and paramedics attended the scene but Denny was pronounced dead at 9.10pm on the day of the crash.

A post-mortem examination was carried out by Dr Fitzpatrick Swallows at Southend Hospital, which gave a provisional cause of death as 'awaiting further analysis'.

Essex Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death.

Senior coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray adjourned the inquest until the police investigation has concluded.

She said: "I am opening the inquest touching upon the death of Denny Paul Richardson and I am not setting a date for this matter because I am being told there may be a prosecution but obviously I will need to be kept informed about any developments.

"I shall require a copy of the post-mortem examination and I will need to see the toxicology results, and I will need to see the police statements as well.

"This matter is opened and adjourned with those directions."

Denny's death sparked an outpouring of emotions on the island, with a vigil being held and memorials set up.

Shortly after his death, Denny's mother, Sam Ramplin, told the Echo: "He was fearless, absolutely fearless, he had so much pride.

“He loved animals, through his life he would rescue so many and help them.

"We had two German Shepherds before, and he would give them a bath, tend to them, he was so caring for them.

“It was a heart of gold he had. He would always be asking if I needed help, getting petrol money, always making sure I was okay.

“But he was years ahead of his time, he had an old soul, he had knowledge of so many things, like the Second World War, Pearl Harbour, the Titanic.

“Mechanics was a big part of him. He could take apart a car and build the engine back into it again. “He had so much more knowledge than I have.

“We were in the process of moving to Spain. He would’ve been near his family, and probably would have gone into an apprenticeship in mechanics.”