A retired engineer saved the life of two people through organ donations after dying in a car crash.

Brian Mawdsley, from Southrepps, was killed when the car he was driving hit a tree on the A149 at Northrepps.

Today, an inquest at Norwich Coroner's Court heard the 67-year-old, who helped establish Southrepps Chorale with his wife, Brenda, had a heart attack moments before the crash on March 11 this year.

The couple had been showing two friends around Norfolk and were heading home when the black VW Golf estate crashed into the tree on a bend on North Walsham Road shortly before 5pm.

In a statement today, the family said: 'We are devastated by the sudden and sad loss of Brian.

'However, we take some comfort from the successful organ donations and would urge other families to consider becoming organ donors.'

Mr Mawdsley's liver was used to save the life of a woman in her early thirties, who had a young daughter, and one of his kidneys has also been used.

Norfolk coroner William Armstrong said: 'Out of this tragedy, some good has come.'

The father-of-two died at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital on March 13 – two days after the crash.

His wife and passengers were also taken to hospital, and at the inquest Mrs Mawdsley said that the last thing she could remember on the day was driving through Cromer and their friends commenting on the price of fuel.

Doctor Laszlo Igali told the inquest that Mr Mawdsley had died from his injuries, and the crash was most likely to have been caused by him having a heart attack from an undetected heart condition.

There was no sign of the car braking before the crash, leading Mr Armstrong to the conclusion that Mr Mawdsley was unconscious before the car hit the tree on the opposite side of the road.

Family liaison officer Chris Tremlin, from Norfolk Constabulary, said: 'The family has been dignified in the way they have dealt with everything.

'They are happy with verdict of the coroner.'

Mr Mawdsley was described as 'one of life's true gents,' by friends when he died.

To become an organ donor visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call the NHS Blood and Transplant service on 0300 123 23 23.