A LARGER-than-life scout leader died from massive head injuries after crashing his car into a tree -- but mystery still surrounds his death, an inquest heard.

Father-of-two Gary Wilson, 52, was trapped in his Ford estate car while passers-by frantically attempted to put out the flames in the car's engine.

Acting Coroner, Simon Nelson, was unable to discover why Mr Wilson crashed in January.

Police accident investigators told Mr Nelson that no other cars were involved and that there was no reason why Mr Nelson lost control and swerved into a tree on a quiet Kearsley road.

The inquest heard how Mr Wilson, a self-employed building contractor, was a "jolly person" who was a keen walker and was involved in the scouting movement.

Mr Wilson had left his home in Carrslea Close, Radcliffe, at 7.30pm on January 13 to price up a building job in Stoneclough. The experienced driver was suffering from a "bout of 'flu" and had been given antibiotics for a chest infection.

But the acting coroner described Mr Wilson as an "industrious person" who battled on and worked until his untimely death.

Mr Wilson had been suffering for two years from a sinus problem which caused him to sneeze excessively.

Mr Nelson said: "We are at a loss to explain why the vehicle left the road at this particular time." In recording a verdict that Mr Wilson suffered an accidental death, Mr Nelson praised the efforts of passers-by who ran to a nearby public house to find a fire extinguisher to put out the flames on the burning car.

Fire crews cut Mr Wilson free from the wreckage after the dashboard and engine of the car had crushed the driver.

Pathologist Stephen Wells said Mr Wilson died after suffering a large head injury from the impact of the car hitting the tree.

Mr Nelson said: "Mr Wilson was extremely industrious and hard working.

"Even though he was suffering from the effects of 'flu, I don't think that in itself would have caused the accident."

The acting coroner told the grieving family: "I have been told that he was a jolly gentleman, larger than life.

"I am sure that it is of these attributes that you wish to remember him."