An inquest in Reading, England, on Tuesday (February 12) heard how Jack Wilcox, living in Phuket at the time, died after his motorcycle crashed into a roadside electricity post in the Mueang Phuket district early in the morning of Monday, February 6.
Mr Wilcox had never driven a motorcycle before hiring one 10 days earlier and did not have a UK driving licence, British newspaper The Reading Post reported.
His mother, Angela Wilcox, was quoted as saying: “I think it is ridiculous that they allowed someone who has never driven a bike or car, had no UK driving licence and no road experience to rent a bike.”
Mr Wilcox moved to Thailand on January 14 last year, less than four weeks before his crash.
His plan had been to live in a poker fraternity for six months during his gap year after graduating in business management from Swansea University.
He had discovered a natural talent for the game when he was in sixth form studying for his A-levels.
Mr Wilcox was so well respected in the internet poker circles that he offered coaching sessions to other players and at the time of his death was writing a free e-book to help new players improve.
He used his talents as an internet poker player to fund his worldly adventures.
Mrs Wilcox said: “He loved travelling, both on his own and with friends.”
He had travelled to countries in Europe, South America and South East Asia.
The Wilcox family expressed their sadness at losing Mr Wilcox so soon after the death of his father, Richard Wilcox in 2010.
His sister, Emma, described her older brother as “happy go lucky” and someone who “lived life to the full”.
Mrs Wilcox described how much she missed her son and the affect of his death as “awful”.
Mr Wilcox's uncle Malcolm Butler said: “He was a larger than life character, all his friends miss him.”
A post mortem examination was carried out when his body was returned to the United Kingdom. The cause of death was intra-abdominal haemorrhage.
Coroner Peter Bedford recorded the death as an accident.