A popular footballer died after his car crashed into a tree near Wallingford, an inquest at Oxford Coroner's Court was told yesterday.

Former AFC Wallingford defender and Oxford City player Robin Antonowicz, was seriously injured when his Mitsubishi car left the road on the B4009 at South Stoke on April 15 last year.

The 23-year-old, of Aston Close, Pangbourne, near Reading, was airlifted to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, where he died five days later.

The fitness instructor left work at the Hightone gym, in High Street, Wallingford, and set off for his parents' house in Goring at about 8.45pm, said former receptionist Nicola Wilkinson.

His friend, Ross Weatherstone, whom he was due to meet, said Mr Antonowicz was in high spirits when they chatted on the phone minutes later.

In a written statement, Sylvia Walshingham said she had come upon the wreckage on her way home to Dorchester at about 9pm. She called the emergency services and was joined by a retired paramedic and his wife, who stopped to help.

Dr Derek Roskell said Mr Antonowicz died of multiple organ failure as a result of a severe head injury.

Accident investigator Pc Stephen Jenkins said there were no witnesses to the crash.

He said: "He may have been travelling a bit fast for the conditions and his own driving ability. The low pressure on one of his tyres would make it more difficult to steer."

He agreed with the footballer's father Joseph that an animal could have run into the road and caused him to swerve.

Deputy coroner Dorothy Flood recorded a verdict of accidental death.