Tributes have been paid to a British couple who died in a ‘freak’ accident in northern Spain after falling off their motorbike because cars behind them were unable to brake.
Kieron Haines, 68, and his wife Sharron, 65, died after falling from their bicycles on the highway during heavy rain.
Both were hit by following vehicles that were unable to brake in time after being thrown onto the asphalt last Monday.
Friends spoke of their grief overnight after relatives of the couple from Norwich, Norfolk, contacted them about the devastating news.
As well as a shared passion for motorcycles, which had taken them on several European tours, they also kept an allotment garden and Kieron was a keen amateur beekeeper.
Kieron Haines, 68, and his wife Sharron, 65, died after falling from their bicycles on the highway during heavy rain (the couple pictured)
Tributes have been paid to the British couple (pictured) who died in a ‘freak’ accident in northern Spain last week
The accident happened last week on the A-8 motorway near the seaside resort of Llanes (file image), an hour’s drive east of the northern Spanish city of Oviedo.
The fatal accident happened last Monday around 5:30 p.m. on the A-8 highway near the seaside resort of Llanes, an hour’s drive east of the northern Spanish city of Oviedo.
Shelagh Gurney, Norfolk County councilor for Hellesdon near Norwich, where Kieron and his wife lived, said in a message to her local allotment association this weekend: ‘It is with great sadness and dismay that I have to inform you that my dear friend and bee colleague Kieron Haines and his dearest wife and old school friend of mine Sharron were both killed in a freak motorcycle accident while touring with the motorcycle club they belong to in Northern Spain.’
She said she had been contacted by their son Ben, one of the couple’s two children, adding: “I am devastated to say the least and I know you will both know them because they have a had an assignment. Rest in peace, my dear bee friend and your wife.’
Construction worker David Rowe replied: ‘That’s so sad. He was a nice guy, he always had time for a chat, both very nice people.’
Fellow allotment farmer Shirley King wrote: ‘We are very shocked and saddened by the news.
“We will miss him greatly as he was a great neighbor.”
Another acquaintance added: “Kieron was a nice, down-to-earth man.
“Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”
Friends of Kieron and Sharron Haines (pictured) spoke of their grief overnight after being contacted by relatives of the couple, from Norwich, Norfolk
In addition to a shared passion for motorcycles, which had taken them on several European tours, Kieron and Sharron also held an assignment
Kieron and Sharron were hit by vehicles behind them who were unable to brake in time after being thrown onto the asphalt after falling off the motorcycle last Monday
Well-traveled Kieron and Sharron featured highly on a ‘Leader Board’ of tours organized by a Surrey-based motorcycle tour company.
It was not immediately clear this morning whether the couple had been traveling with the company or a club in East Anglia to which they were believed to belong.
Their son Ben wrote on Facebook earlier this year in an emotional tribute to his parents on their 30th wedding anniversary: ’Happy anniversary to a beautiful mother and a wonderful father.
“You both consistently inspire me to be the best person I can be. I hope you’re having a good day.’
Friend Teresa Beach replied at the time: “Happy anniversary to two of the nicest people I know.”
Following last week’s tragic accident, a Guardia Civil spokesman confirmed: ‘Two British nationals have died in an accident on the A8 motorway in the municipality of Blanes, near the Balmori exit.
‘It involved a couple aged 68 and 65. They were traveling west towards the provincial capital Oviedo when the motorbike they were on overturned for reasons still under investigation.”
Well-traveled Kieron and Sharron featured highly on a ‘Leader Board’ of trips organized by a Surrey-based motorcycle tour company
Well-travelled Kieron and Sharron are pictured together in holiday snaps. Friends have now paid tribute to the couple
The accident led to the temporary closure of part of the highway.
Local reports at the time said the accident occurred while there was heavy rain in the area.
A Civil Guard report on the incident has not been made public and has been handed over to a local investigating judge.
The post-mortem results have also not been made public, as is customary in Spain.
