A “SELFLESS” lifeguard sent a heartbreaking text to two of his friends before crashing into a tree near Wimborne.

Joshua Willis, 20, who lived in Whitemoor, Holt near Wimborne, was driving a white Volkswagen Golf that crashed on an unnamed road in Holt Forest on January 24, 2020.

And the inquest into his death was held at Bournemouth Town Hall on Friday, January 29, 2021.

The inquest heard how Mr Willis, who had a history of mental health problems and had overdosed three times but always sought help when feeling low, had spent the evening of January 24 with his family.

He had had an evening meal and was described as being his “usual self” that day.

At 9.40pm, he left his home address to collect clothes from his sister’s house.

Nine minutes later, the 20-year-old spoke with his sister on the phone. However, at 10.36, he was found in an unresponsive and collapsed condition, after his vehicle collided with a tree.

He was transferred to Southampton General Hospital where he died the following day. A post-mortem into his death found he died of 1A multiple injuries.

Shortly before his crash, Mr Willis sent a text message to his friend Cameron Clarke which said: “You was a good mate, even though we rarely talked or met you was a good mate to be fair, you were there for me, it sucks I won’t be able to see you again.”

Speaking at the inquest, Mr Clarke said: “From the Josh I know, I would say he didn’t mean to crash that car, but from that text it makes me think. But the way Josh was as a person, I would say no he did not mean to crash his car.”

Mr Willis also messaged close friend Kieran Bartlett which said: “I love you bro, I am going to miss you bro.”

However, Mr Bartlett also said he couldn’t imagine Mr Willis wanting to end his life.

An investigation of the scene carried out by Sargent Lee Savage, found the speedometer of Mr Willis’ car was stuck at 71mph.

He also told the inquest there was no evidence that the brakes were used, and that the car carried on straight, instead of following the bend to the left.

Mr Savage said the most likely explanation for the crash was that Mr Willis intended to drive into the tree but couldn’t rule out that he was distracted and hit the tree.

Mr Willis’ mother, Candy, said: “The only person that actually knows what happened is not here.

“I believe, from being his mum, I really don’t think he did it intentionally.

“We drive that road every day, I am sure he wouldn’t have done it there. I believe it was a tragic accident.”

Recording the conclusion, Dorset coroner Rachael Griffin said: “For whatever reason, the evidence is clear that Josh did not take the bend, there are a number of reasons why that could have occurred.

“Of all the evidence available to me today, there are a number of possibilities. I can’t be sure of the conclusion, other than Josh died in a road traffic collision.”