AN INQUEST was told of the tragic go-ped accident that left a man in a coma for six years before he died.

Mark Peter Holroyd, 37, had been in a persistent vegetative state and was treated at the Rakehead Rehabilitation Unit in Darwen for five years after suffering brain damage in the freak accident.

His father, Peter Holroyd, told the inquest that Mark had been having a barbecue party at his house in Mill Brook, Fence, on June 17, the day England played Germany in Euro 2000.

One of his friends brought the go-ped with him.

And at some stage a number of them went on to the school yard at Wheatley Lane to have a go on the machine.

None of them was wearing any protective clothing or helmets.

Andrew Swindlehurst, who was with Mark on the day, said he had been on the go-ped immediately before his friend.

"I did not actually see him come off but it seems he clipped the kerb," said Mr Swindlehurst. "At the time we didn't think it was dangerous, not like a motorbike or anything."

He said Mark had been knocked unconscious.

But when the paramedics arrived he stood up and was talking to them.

"He even asked us if we thought he should go to hospital," he added.

He walked unaided to the ambulance, but then during the journey from Fence to Burnley General Hospital, his heart stopped and he never regained consciousness before his death on October 31, 2006. The medical cause of death was given as broncho-pneumonia due to head injury.

Coroner Michael Singleton recorded a verdict of accidental death.

He said that prior to the hearing he had done some research into the sale of go-peds.

While it might not have been the case back in 2000, they were now sold with clear warnings as to the need for safety equipment.

Last year Mark's father released sections of a book he had written, which detailed how the past six years had been for his family, to the Lancashire Telegraph .

Peter Holroyd, from Higham, revealed he went to see Mark every day for five years at the Rakehead Rehabilitation Unit and then at the nearby Birch Hall care home, where he sat talking to him for hours.

He told him stories about his years as a Royal Marine, and bodyguard to former Prime Minister Harold Macmillan.