Beveridge's death was avoidable, says coroner.

The inquest into the death of marshal Graham Beveridge at the Australian Grand Prix last year has concluded that the incident was 'avoidable'.

52-year-old Beveridge was killed instantly when he was hit the chest by a wheel that was ripped off Jacques Villeneuve's BAR-Honda after he collided with Ralf Schumacher.

Graeme Johnstone, the Victoria state coroner told the BBC: "In this case, those agencies responsible for organising the 2001 Australian Formula One Grand Prix motor race failed to satisfactorily manage the risk to marshals created by gaps in the debris fence."

"The issue of the potential for debris to go through the gap had been identified by CAMS [Confederation of Australian Motor Sport] years prior to the running of the 2001 event at Albert Park."

"The eventual solution was not only obvious, it was practical, and should have been in place before the racing incident at Albert Park."

"Mr Beveridge's death was avoidable."

Johnson added with regard to claims the accident was 'one-in-a-million' that: "the fact a larger item went through, in what has been described by some as freakish circumstances, is not an argument that avoids the need to have managed the risk."