TWO Llanelli men who died in a horror motorcycle smash in Thailand may have been trying to avoid a dog, an inquest has heard.

Matthew Jenkins, aged 24 of Granby Close, Morfa, and 23-year-old Alex George of Llwynhendy Road were on a lads holiday with friends Ross Robinson and Nick Harris in Pattaya when tragedy struck on May 22 last year.

The Llanelli inquest heard how the two former Bryngwyn Comprehensive School pupils died on route two of North Pattaya, when their orange Honda 'superbike' crashed in front of the Big C department store.

Police reports state that Mr Jenkins was riding the bike at 'very high speeds' with Mr George riding pillion.

Giving evidence from Thai police collision reports, coroner's assistant David Williams said the investigating officer at the time was lieutenant colonel Suphachai Phuikaeokham.

"He said he was informed by police radio that there was an accident involving a motorcycle and that there was two fatal injuries," he added.

"The bike was found lying on the road with two foreign nationals lying dead at the same area.

"The men took a sharp bend, lost control of the bike and crashed and fell on the road.

"The two men fell off the motorbike, hit their heads on the road and died."

Their bodies were identified by fingerprint testing and by sheets of paper found in their pockets.

Family members told Carmarthenshire Coroner John Owen during proceedings that they had been told the bike swerved to avoid a dog which ran into the road.

This fact was also mentioned in a pathology report by consultant pathologist John Kevin Murphy of West Wales General Hospital, Carmarthen.

Mr Owen said it was a difficult task to get exact details of what caused the crash, as the incident happened abroad.

He also said toxicology examinations could not be carried out to trace alcohol, due to the embalming procedures used, which affected body fluids.

He delivered a verdict of accidental death on both men.

He said: "I am quite sure that the accident was not due to negligence of another motorist.

"I offer the families my sincere sympathy in these tragic circumstances."

The pair have been previously described by devastated friends as being "loved by everyone" and a "brilliant laugh".

Alex's sister Victoria George previously said the family were very grateful for support shown by the town following the death of her brother.

"It's been a rollercoaster ride for the entire family, but people have been amazing," she said.

"The whole town has come out and shown us as much support as possible — it's been really overwhelming."

chantelle.rees@swwmedia.co.uk