A YOUNG Hampshire driver who died in a crash might have saved his life had he been wearing a seat belt, an inquest heard.

Twenty-year-old Christopher Bridges was thrown from his silver Ford Ka, which went out of control after he hit a crash barrier while over the drink-drive limit, on the A31 at Four Marks.

He died of severe head injuries, the inquest heard.

Paying tribute, mum Sarah said: “Chris is going to be missed by everyone in and around Alresford.

“He was a larger than life character.

“Chris was a lovely person, he was very caring and he was a very thoughtful, loyal person.”

She added that she had often reminded him to wear his seatbelt.

The inquest, at Alton Magistrates’ Court, was told how Mr Bridges, of Watercress Meadow, Alresford, had been drinking and decided to return his girlfriend’s mobile phone when the accident happened on September 16.

Girlfriend Claire Bourne stated that they had met for a get-together at a friend’s house in Alresford, where Mr Bridges had drunk a bottle of vodka and three or four beers.

Mr Bridges, who had worked at Eddolls Carpets in Alresford since leaving school, was taken to Southampton General Hospital but was pronounced dead at 6.30am the next day.

The inquest heard that his blood had 115 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres, against a legal limit of 80, but the coroner said this would be a minimum amount due to the fluids Mr Bridges was given during treatment.

North East Hampshire coroner Andrew Bradley recorded a verdict of accidental death.

But he added: “They [seat belts] save lives and in this instance, sadly, Christopher’s could have been.”