A popular rugby player died after being hit by two cars following a heavy drinking session with his team-mates, a court heard.

Anthony Marshall, known to friends as Ginge due to his hair colour, was jogging home to Probus from Truro on November 28 last year when he was struck by a Vauxhall Corsa and then a Mazda 323.

The 35-year-old Cornishman had been celebrating St Austell's victory over Exeter Saracens earlier that evening, drinking several pints of beer during the six-hour session. Friends said he had become drunk and had fallen over in a pub, before deciding to jog home.

However, Mr Marshall decided to run down the middle of Union Hill on the A390 at Tresilian – a bendy road with no street lighting and a 60mph speed limit. He was first struck by the Vauxhall shortly after 10.30pm. The second car, following, pulled out to over take the now stationary Vauxhall, but unwittingly dragged Mr Marshall's body further down the road.

At the inquest, Coroner Barrie van den Berg said pathologists were unable to say which vehicle had struck the fatal blow.

The hearing, in Truro, heard how the popular father-of-one, who had posthumously become a father for a second time, was "a generous man who would do anything for anyone".

He was a very popular member of the St Austell rugby team, and was described as being "the centre of attention, as usual" during the celebratory night out in Truro.

Friends said Mr Marshall had drunk up to 15 beers before crashing into a table and cutting his forearm on broken glass in a bar.

Around the same time, 18-year-old university student David Newton was driving from Truro towards St Austell.

Mr Newton said: "Halfway down the road, a guy came from the right-hand-side into my path. I had absolutely no chance of avoiding him."

Mr Newton stopped and put his hazard lights on, when he noticed another car approaching behind him. It was being driven by Ian Clayton, who overtook the stationary vehicle on the right side.

Mr Clayton said: "I thought (Mr Newton) had broken down, so I slowed down and overtook him. The next thing I knew, my wife was exclaiming there was something in the road. It was so sudden, I just went over it."

Other motorists said they assumed Mr Marshall's motionless body was "an animal", before making the grim discovery.

Mr Marshall had serious injuries to his head and body, and was pronounced dead in hospital.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr van den Berg said: "Mr Marshall was obviously running home in the dark and was struck by the cars. How he died was an accident. No one intended it, and I don't blame the drivers.

"It is obvious from the tributes and statements that Mr Marshall was a man with so much to offer."