A Chingford man died after he and his wife were struck by a car during a holiday in Spain.

Steven Campbell, 51, who worked as an operations specialist for Wells Fargo bank, was pronounced dead at hospital after the incident in Murcia last month.

His wife, who has not been publicly named, survived.

An inquest was opened into Steven’s death at East London Coroner’s Court on Wednesday, August 14.

“He and his wife were on holiday in Spain when they were struck by a car on the evening of the 9th of July,” said assistant coroner Dr Shirley Radcliffe.

Steven was taken to hospital with “catastrophic brain injuries” but Dr Radcliffe said: “Despite all possible treatment, he died.”

His preliminary cause of death was given as “brain death due to severe head trauma”.

Last month, numerous media outlets in the UK and Spain reported that a British couple had been struck by an alleged drunk driver in Los Narejos.

The region, like neighbouring Loz Alcazares, is a tourist hotspot as it is on the Mar Menor, a vast but shallow saltwater lagoon which offers safe, warm swimming.

The information provided to the coroner did not specify where in Murcia Steven and his wife had been involved in the crash.

The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) refused to confirm or deny whether they were the same couple whose crash generated last month’s widespread media coverage.

However, both incidents occurred in Murcia on July 9 and involved husband-and-wife British tourists being struck by a car. In both instances, the husband died but the wife survived.

Local police did not respond to our request for comment.

According to Spanish media reports, a British husband and wife were run over on a zebra crossing outside the Costa Narejos Hotel in Murcia on July 9 by a drunk driver, who insisted he was doing under 25mph and blamed poor street lightingAccording to Spanish media reports, a British husband and wife were struck on a zebra crossing outside the Costa Narejos Hotel in Murcia on July 9  (Image: Google Street View)

Spanish media outlet El Espanol reported that the British couple were struck in Los Narejos on a zebra crossing outside the Costa Narejos Hotel.

Local news outlet Murcia Today reported that the driver had since appeared in court charged with reckless homicide, causing serious injury and two road safety offences.

The fatal collision in Los Narejos was also reported by the Sun, Mirror, Daily Mail and GB News – but ours was the only reporter to cover the opening of Steven’s inquest.

Dr Radcliffe adjourned the proceedings to a date yet to be decided.

The FCDO said: “We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.”