The death of a high-flying bank employee was at the centre of a heated debate on Wednesday after his family refused to accept a coroner's decision that he was killed instantly in a motorcycle accident.

Father-of-two Spencer Backhouse, who had worked at Deutsche Bank for more than a decade, tragically died when his motorbike slid off Welders Lane in Chalfont St Peter - a country road covered in debris - and crashed into a tree, causing fatal chest injuries, a coroner ruled.

However, during the inquest into her husband's death, wife Elizabeth objected to the belief that the qualified accountant had suffered a catastrophic heart attack in the fatal crash.

She said: "Why is his death not natural causes? I believe Spencer was dead before his bike veered. Minutes after he was found, he was blue and he was gone."

Similarly, his devastated father John claimed that he had spoken to "many medics" who suggested the 48-year-old's death may have been caused by dehydration.

The pensioner told the hearing in Beaconsfield: "My son was such a careful driver. If he went out that morning without taking a drink, his blood vessels would have been tight. If he was going down that road in a state of dehydration, it could have caused his heart to fail."

Attempting to calm the family down, assistant Buckinghamshire coroner Ian Wade said: "Spencer was riding on a dark, narrow country lane. His bike entered an area of built-up soil, silt and tree rubbish, his bike had moved as a result of it. This all happened in one second.

"He was absolutely incapable of preventing what was about to happen - that this machine would slide into a tree with him onboard."

Spencer was discovered lying face down on Welders Lane, in the same village where he lived, just after 6am on October 24 last year, with his BMW motorcycle still running.

Despite the best efforts of paramedics - who used a chest compression machine in an attempt to revive him - Spencer was declared dead at the scene. Inside his leather jacket, officers discovered his wedding ring and a bunch of keys engraved with a heart and his wedding date, the inquest heard.

Expert forensic collision investigator Adrian White attempted to explain that there were several possibilities why there was a loss of control, including a historic tyre puncture that was discovered.

Wife Elizabeth said: "The bike had an MOT a week prior to the incident and had not been driven since the MOT. It had a professional bung in the puncture. You are blaming Spencer for his death."

Attempting to console the heartbroken woman, Mr White added: "At the end of the day, the motorcycle has slipped from underneath him.

"It is possible that the rear tyre slid when entering the area of detritus in the road. It is more than likely that the tyre squirmed underneath the bike enough for Spencer to try to correct it but he lost control."

Mr Wade sympathised with the grieving family of the 48-year-old before concluding a verdict of road traffic collision - despite their objections.

Talking to Spencer's parents, sobbing wife and brother Dudley, he summarised: "On October 24, Spencer rode a BMW westbound on Welders Lane, Chalfont St Peter, at a lawful speed when he entered an area of natural detritus causing a significant loss of control leading to the bike sliding away, veering to his offside, colliding with an embankment and a tree, causing catastrophic chest injuries from which he died at the scene.

"Spencer Backhouse did not carelessly, deliberately or inadvertently contribute to this event. This was an event that overtook and overwhelmed him, effectively he could not and did not play any part in it, save that of a victim.

"Although it would have been dearly wished by you all that he had died before his bike had come to grief, I think you have to reconsider that this is not supported by the evidence. Whatever happened, it happened astonishingly fast."

In 1992, Spencer studied financial services at the University of Central Lancashire. Starting as a Financial Controller at Lombard Risk, four years later he moved to the esteemed JP Morgan and Chase performing the same role until 2010.

The father-of-two dedicated the next 10 years of his career to Deutsche Bank as a finance controller.

Following his tragic death, friends, family and colleagues raised £3,776. His mother Jill wrote: “I cannot find the words to say how much I will miss you Spencer, my beautiful boy.

"You have been such a loving son, thoughtful in every way and have left a huge hole in our lives. You have always been there for me and now I will return your love by looking after all those dear to you."

Leaving a tribute, family friends Sue and Mike Sleight said: "We knew Spencer only through his parents Jill and John with whom we have been good friends for over 40 years from when Spencer was just a wee boy. We are really sorry to hear of his tragic, untimely death."

Former colleague Mark Charad added: "Spen was a great workmate, a wonderful human being and someone I was proud to call my friend. I will miss his smile, his positive attitude to life, his stories and the great chats around the break out areas or in the pub. My thoughts are with Liz and the kids at this very difficult time."