The widow of a St Albans man who was tragically killed while taking part in a quad bike excursion while staying at Sir Richard Branson’s Moroccan retreat has said that she will “never come to terms” with his sudden death.

Jamie Hulse, 47, of Smallford, died on July 16 last year after his quad bike plunged, for reasons unknown, 100 feet down a steep rocky slope during a guided excursion.

In a statement released last Wednesday (16), at the end of a two-day inquest into his death, Sally Hulse said: “Jamie died 17 months ago today. I will never come to terms with what happened, but at least I have achieved something by Virgin ceasing to offer quad bike trips.”

Jon Brown, managing director of Virgin Limited Edition, apologised to the family at the Herts Coroners’ Court and accepted that the mountainous route taken by Jamie and others on that fateful day was not suitable for the group of beginners and children.

Sally told the court that Jamie would not have gone on the route if he had known how dangerous it was.

Herts Coroner Geoffrey Sullivan said that Jamie’s death, from multiple traumatic injuries, was contributed to by defects in the quad bike, inadequate instruction and that it was an unsuitable route for an inexperienced rider.

Julian Chamberlayne, head of travel at Stewarts Law, who represented Sally at the inquest, said after the ruling: “It was really important to Sally and her children that the many failings in relation to this quad bike trip were heard in court.

“Virgin has clearly learnt lessons and stopped offering quad bike trips on their holidays.

“I hope other UK holiday companies take a very careful look at whether any quad bike trips offered are really suitable for their holiday makers.”

• Last month, Sally Hulse and Virgin Limited Edition agreed an out-of-court settlement.