A TEENAGER who sustained serious head injuries after falling from a moving minibus in Bury has lost his fight for life.

Wesley McDevitt (18) died in Salford's Hope Hospital on Wednesday, three days after the accident after a night out with friends.

He had recently been accepted into the Army and was due to start his career in January.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident which happened at 4am on Sunday when Mr McDevitt fell from a Ford Transit minibus travelling along Jubilee Way, Bury.

He was returning home after a night out in the town.

Shortly before the accident, the vehicle had stopped at the junction with Bolton Street and a conversation took place between the teenager and a passenger from a taxi. Police say the conversation was not thought to have been aggressive in any way.

Mr McDevitt suffered serious injuries in the fall and was taken to Fairfield Hospital before being transferred to Hope Hospital.

Paying tribute to their son, the teenager's grieving parents Cath (42) and 43-year-old Andrew McDevitt, said: "Wesley was a friendly, caring person and was so full of life. We can't believe he has been taken away from us at such an early age. He was friends with everyone and was always happy to help others. Wesley had recently been accepted into the Army and was due to start next January.

"He was really looking forward to travelling the world with his new career. He was a keen footballer, playing with his mates and in his local amateur team. He was extremely close to his 12-year-old brother, Joel, and his nana."

They added: "We can't believe what has happened and are absolutely devastated."

Police are still anxious to talk to anyone who may have seen the accident. They are asked to ring the area road policing unit at Bury on (0161) 856 8073 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.