THE loving husband of a well-known travel agent who died in a freak petrol station accident has paid tribute to his "wonderful and kind" wife.

Sheila Moger, 70, from Shirley, was trying to coast away from the pumps when she lost control of her car and fell out of the driver's door.

The grandmother of one was rushed to hospital after the incident in the Asda petrol station in Pevensey, East Sussex, on June 24 last year, but died less than 24 hours later from head injuries.

The inquest into her death took place at Eastbourne Coroners' Court on Thursday of last week, and now her adoring family have paid tribute to the woman who was "always helping others".

Her husband Terrence said: "As well as everything else, she was my best friend.

"She was a great wife, we were married for 45 years and every one of them was happy.

"I miss her a lot."

Mrs Moger, of Shirley Church Road, had worked as a travel agent for 52 years before her retirement, and died while on a weekend away in Eastbourne.

The former member of Croydon Chamber of Commerce started off working for Longmere Travel, in Addiscombe, before branching out on her own.

Witnesses at the inquest told how the 70-year-old had pulled in to get petrol but looked confused at how to work the self-service prepayment pumps.

Conscious of holding others up, she put one leg in her car to coast forward and free up the space but tragically hit the accelerator instead of the brake when she tried to stop.

She then shot forward and fell out of her car as she tried to get it under control, hitting her head on the road.

Mrs Moger was taken to hospital, but died 24 hours later when doctors switched off her life-support machines.

"It was so hard for me to take in at the inquest," Mr Moger said.

"I thought she'd had a heart attack or stroke or something because it just didn't make sense to me how it would have happened.

"She was such a good driver, she would go out in her car everyday. It was almost a hobby for her.

"We had so many plans together. She loved Eastbourne and went down there for a few days before the accident. When she got back we had decided to move down to Cornwall.

"Our only son Gary lives down there and is married to a lovely lady called Clare. They had just had their first son, our grandson, Jake. He is 18 months now.

"Sheila just idolised him and we wanted to be near them. I think I am still going to move down there in time, it is what Sheila would have wanted.

"I will always remember her as being kind – she was an amazing woman. When she retired she helped out in the community, taking elderly people to hospital visits and such. She would always say, 'There is always someone worse off than me.'"

Speaking at the inquest, coroner for East Sussex Alan Craze reported a verdict of death by road traffic incident and added: "I totally understand this has been devastating for the family and I can't do anything more than offer my sincerest condolences."