Queensland cattle station manager Gregory Hoare was lying 10 metres from his quad bike when they found him.
The 43-year-old father of four had been mustering cattle at the large north Queensland farm in May 2013 when, for unknown reasons, he drove directly into a barbed wire gate, with fatal consequences.
His death was just one of a spate of similar tragedies on rural properties in Queensland in the past three years that has prompted a push for greater regulation of all terrain vehicles.
Mandatory helmets, a licensing scheme, and restrictions on children riding full-sized machines were among sweeping changes recommended by deputy state coroner John Lock on Monday.
"If there are to be future developments leading to safer use of quad bikes, state and federal governments and agencies under their control or auspice are going to have to make regulatory changes," Mr Lock said.
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The recommendations follow an inquest into the deaths of nine people on Queensland properties from 2012 to early 2014.
Some were crushed under the heavy vehicles; others suffered massive head injuries that may have been prevented by a helmet.
Three were children under 12.
Surgeons have called on the Queensland government to act swiftly to ban under-16s from riding adult quad bikes and implement a safety rating system.
The head of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons state trauma committee Richard Lewandowski said major injuries from quad bikes almost doubled between 2010 and 2012.
"Quad bikes are inherently unstable and leave very little room for rider error," he said in a statement.
"Children, who are often more inexperienced and careless than older riders, can end up dead or disabled."
A similar inquest is being held in NSW this week.
