A paramedic has died after being hit by a truck during a motorcycle crash

After 28 years in the NHS, Mark Pell was nicknamed “mother hen” by colleagues.

London Ambulance Service Mark Pell sits on a fold-out sofa. He is wearing a light green waterproof jacket open in the front and is smiling, placing one hand on the top of his head and forehead — After 28 years in the NHS, Mark Pell was nicknamed “mother hen” by colleagues.

An inquest heard that a paramedic was killed on a North Wales Police motorcycling refresher course when his bike collided with a lorry.

Mark Pell (51) from Essex was with a colleague from the London Ambulance Service when they were involved in a five-vehicle crash on the A5 near Pentrefoelas, Conwy, on April 7, 2022.

An inquest at Ruthin Coroner’s Court heard that Mr Pell was negotiating a sharp left-hand bend when, for unknown reasons, his bicycle crossed the solid white safety line and entered the path of an oncoming HGV.

He suffered brain injury after being thrown from the bicycle, death, according to the coroner, was the result of a road collision.

Other drivers tried to help Mr Pell, who was airlifted to hospital in Stoke-on-Trent.

His family was later told his brain injury was “unsurvivable” and he died on April 13.

Pell was described as an experienced motorcyclist who was taking part in a five-day driver refresher course run by North Wales Police.

Fellow paramedic Andrew Daly, from the London Ambulance Motorcycle Response Unit, was riding behind Mr Pell and was thrown into the air in the crash, breaking his pelvis.

Despite his injuries, he shouted medical instructions to those caring for Mr Pell, and senior coroner John Gittins praised him for helping “in a very difficult situation”.

Course instructor Philip Jones stopped his BMW motorcycle safely and asked his colleagues to contact the emergency services.

North Wales Police handed the investigation over to police in neighboring Cheshire.

Collision Forensic Officer Nicholas Harris told the inquest he was unable to say what caused Mr Pell’s bike to travel two feet beyond the solid white line onto the opposite road.

He estimated that the motorcycle was traveling at a speed of 87-111 km/h at the time of impact.

Pell’s father, Roger, described his son as someone who “always wanted to help others from a young age”, “known in the emergency services as a safe traveler and driver”, who “loved what he did”.