An inquest has been opened into a senior aircraftsman’s death on the A1 close to RAF Wittering.  

Shaun Thomas, 27, died when he was struck by a vehicle on the northbound carriageway shortly after midnight on August 8, 2024.  

An inquest was opened into his death at a brief hearing held at Peterborough Town Hall on Thursday (August 29).  

Simon Milburn, an area coroner for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said: “It appears that Mr Thomas was walking in the northbound carriageway when he was struck by a vehicle... 

“[his] death was confirmed by paramedic at the scene.” 

The matter has now been adjourned for a hearing on February 3, 2025.

Mr Thomas was born in Aberdare, South Wales, and his family recently released a loving tribute to him.  

In their statement, he was described as "a handsome, funny, smart and a generous young man”. 

They said: “He had a lot of ambitions in life, football being one of them.   

“He was a huge Manchester United supporter.  

“He loved travelling, cooking, playing Fifa, listening to music and spending time with his friends and family.   

“He was known as the 'class clown' or as his sister would say, 'another Jim Carrey'. He loved playing pranks on others, and he never took life too seriously.” 

"He was the joy and soul of the party, and as a family we are absolutely heartbroken to have lost someone as special as Shaun."    

They added: “There will never be another Shaun Thomas - he was one in a million.” 

He was also described as “a great friend, partner, son, father, brother, uncle, nephew and cousin.”    

Anyone with information or dashcam footage of the collision or the moments leading up to it is urged to contact police via Cambridgeshire Constabulary's website quoting "incident 3 of 8 August".   

Anyone without internet access should call 101 and ask to speak to a member of the Road Policing Unit.