A 22-YEAR-OLD Jehovah's Witness who refused a blood transfusion after being injured in a road accident died after an operation at Bury General Hospital, an inquest was told.

Bury District Coroner Mr Barrie Williams said that further reports were being sought on the accident and the medical cause of death of Jonathan James Everett and whether his decision not to take blood products during the operation contributed to his death.

Mr Everett, a graphic designer from Deane in Bolton, was riding his motorbike when he was involved in a collision with a saloon car in Manchester Road, Haslingden, near the junction with Dale Street on January 10.

He was taken to Bury General Hospital with internal injuries, where an operation was required. Contact was made with his family and also his natural father, who was present at hospital when he died. The inquest, opened on Tuesday (Jan 16), heard that Mr Everett, who, like his parents, was a Jehovah's Witness, signed a consent form for the operation excluding blood and blood components.

Mr Everett and his brother had been members of the Kingdom Hall meeting place in Bolton for the last 12 years. Coroner's officer Mr Geoff Cave said that the signing of the operation form, excluding blood transfusions because of religious convictions, had been written in the presence of a witness and a consultant at the hospital.

Mr Everett, who worked at Winfields in Haslingden, died in the theatre recovery room the following morning after suffering an internal haemorrhage due to abdominal injuries.

Mr Cave said that a Lancashire Constabulary traffic unit was continuing investigations into the road accident.

The inquest was adjourned pending the outcome of the police and medical reports.