'Little boy ran out in front, and bang': inquest into Ryan Leo's death at Hurstville told

But the picture that marked Ryan's seventh birthday was a photograph of a small grave, covered in cards and flowers.

Ryan died in St George Hospital on July 28, 2014, after he was hit by a car on Durham Street, Hurstville, on his way to a taekwondo class.

An inquest to examine the circumstances of the Oatley Public School first grade student's death opened on Monday, where a slide show of photographs chronicling Ryan's short life was played.

His family, their friends, court staff, members of the public and Magistrate Elaine Truscott wiped away tears as the video, prepared by Ryan's father Ben Leo, was played in Glebe Coroner's Court.

"He was obviously a very loving son, but also extremely loved," Ms Truscott said.

In his opening address, advocate assisting the coroner Durand Welsh said Ryan arrived for his taekwondo class with his nanny, Saiyun Shan, about 4.40pm that day.

Ms Shan parked and Ryan got out of the car, ran around the front, and onto the street, where he was hit by an oncoming car.

The cause of his death was a massive head injury.

The officer in charge of the investigation, Senior Constable Robert Street, said there was no evidence the driver, Xue Ying Lin was distracted at the time of the crash, or that she was driving dangerously.

Constable Street said he saw Ms Lin standing on the kerb soon after he arrived at Durham Street that afternoon, and he sat down with her.

"I observed her to be shaking uncontrollably and she was crying hysterically," Constable Street said, reading from his statement.

"I said, 'Are you able to tell me what happened?'. She said, 'Little boy ran out in front, and bang.'

"[She said], 'Is the boy OK? If the boy is not OK my life is over.'"

The inquest will examine road safety issues, how Ryan got out of the car and went to the street, and whether his nanny was experienced and  appropriately supervising him.

The inquest, which is set down for three days, continues.