A MAN has died after spending six years in a coma following a tragic accident that left him severely brain damaged.

Mark Holroyd, 37, of Nelson, died in hospital at 5am last Tuesday morning of pneumonia, the last is a series of bouts that had gradually weakened his immune system.

Mark, or Ollie as he was known, was celebrating with friends in 2000 following a football win for England when the accident happened.

He was riding a motored go-ped when it stopped suddenly and he was thrown over the handlebars, landing on his head.

The impact caused a massive blood clot to his brain and, despite the efforts of medics at Royal Preston Hospital, he was left in a vegetative state.

But his family - parents Peter and Marion, Mark's twin Wendy and elder sister Julie, 40 - never given up hope of bringing their "Markie" back.

Peter said: "From day one we set up a strict visiting routine so that for most of the time Markie had a member of the family with him, which was difficult as we have a family business, but we were determined to do as much as we could."

Peter, from Higham, went to see Mark every day for five years at the Rakehead Rehabilitation Unit in Darwen, and then at the nearby Birch Hall care home, and sat talking to him for hours, telling him stories about his years as a Royal Marine, and bodyguard to former Prime Minister Harold Macmillan.

He has written a book, called Markie's Box, about what happened to his son.

The 66-year-old, who runs appliance wholesalers Independent Gas in Brierfield, said: "I called it Markie's Box because I used to say to him, I know you're in there son, you're just stuck in a box, but don't worry because I'm going to find the key to get you out.'