THE daughter of a world-renowned professor told an inquest yesterday of her shock as she saw a car launch off an esplanade and land on her father as he relaxed on the beach.

Professor Harvey Flower, 58, an expert in aerospace metals, from Beckenham, Kent, died as he enjoyed a family holiday at Shanklin, Isle of Wight, on August 14, 2003.

His daughter, Eleanor, who recently graduated from Imperial College, London, where her father was head of the Department for Metals, told the Newport hearing that it had been a perfect summer's day until the accident.

Miss Flower, 23, who is training to be a teacher, said she was at the water's edge with her mother Gladys, 58, and a family friend, Elizabeth Verlander, 56, while her father was sitting close to the esplanade wall, reading a book on Spitfire aircraft.

She said that she heard the revving of a car, which she saw travelling in reverse at high speed crossing the road, colliding with a empty parked car and a beach hut, before driving off the six-foot wall and landing on the beach.

She said: "The car seemed to be travelling at very high speed. The parked car was shunted backwards and I saw the deckchair hut explode.

"A man lying near to my father rolled away. My father jumped away but he couldn't get away in time. It was a dreadful shock. I could see his legs sticking out from under the car."

Professor Flower was a respected world expert on titanium and had been at Imperial College since 1967.

The inquest heard that the silver Rover 75 car was being driven by Mrs Eileen Smith, 61, who had been reversing the vehicle down her drive, which is opposite the beach, when she lost control.

Witnesses described how the car, with its engine revving loudly, shot down the drive, scraping against the wall, before colliding with a parked green Vauxhall Astra as well as the beach hut, landing on its side on the beach.

In an interview with police, which was read to the hearing, Mrs Smith said she had not put her foot on the accelerator and did not know why the car sped off.

She added: "It's something I will have to live with for the rest of my life and I am really sorry. I can't tell anybody how sorry I am."

The inquest heard that Professor Flower was taken to St Mary's Hospital in Newport, where he died the same day. A post-mortem examination showed that he died of multiple injuries.

Isle of Wight Coroner John Matthews recorded a verdict of death by misadventure and expressed his condolences to the family.

Mrs Smith was charged with dangerous driving in connection with the incident, to which she pleaded guilty at Isle of Wight Crown Court last November. She was given a one-year suspended prison sentence and a three-year driving ban.