THE FAMILY of an 88-year-old woman recovering from an alleged hit-and-run accident have spoken of their double heartache after her disabled son died on the same hospital ward.
Annie Ritson, who was recovering from neck and head injuries at Burnley General Hospital, left her own sick bed to sit with her 66-year-old son during the last hours of his life.
Gordon Ritson, of Hey Head Avenue, Waterfoot, died in intensive care on Friday with his mum and auntie, Margaret Ritson, by his bedside.
Annie had been on her way to visit her stricken son when she was involved in a hit-and-run road accident in Stacksteads on July 22 - and was then placed in the same ward after having surgery for head and neck injuries.
Her son, Gordon - who was born deaf and dumb - had been admitted to hospital eight weeks earlier after falling down the stairs at the home he shared with his mother.
He had suffered multiple injuries in the fall, including five broken ribs, a punctured lung and fractures to his hip, back and collar bone, but was thought to be on the road to recovery before his condition deteriorated last week.
Now, the family are struggling to come to terms with the double tragedy.
Gordon's Auntie Margaret said: "We were both with him at the end. Annie is obviously very upset and was not good yesterday. Her neck injuries from the accident are giving her pain.
"She had been wonderful going to see him every day before the accident and they were very close.
"In his younger days, she had to do a lot for him because he was deaf and dumb but, more recently, he had been helping her.
"After falling down the stairs in May he was taken to intensive care in Wythenshawe Hospital, before being transferred to the male half of the ward that Annie eventually was on. "They both seemed to be getting better and Gordon was sitting in a chair next to his bed. Then last week he was taken ill again and had to go back into intensive care.
"He just never recovered. It will be a blow to Annie and I'm sure she will find it strange living in a house without him after 66 years.
"Gordon was well known in Waterfoot and was a very friendly man."
Mrs Ritson had been landlady of the Moulders Arms pub, Waterfoot, for about 12 years and had also worked at the Well Street WMC.
She had been out walking her dog in Fearns, Stacksteads, on July 22 when she was struck by a motorbike.
Gordon had lived with his mother all his life and had relied on her for help during his earlier years.
Mrs Ritson was admitted to the female half of her son's ward and had only seen him a few times due, to her injuries.
Gordon had worked for the former felt manufacturer Bury Masco, Waterfoot, until it closed and was then transferred to the company's site in Bury. He worked there for two of years before being made redundant.
Steven Young, 25, of Top Barn Lane, Newchurch, has been charged with failing to stop, failing to report an accident, driving without insurance and driving without a licence.
He pleaded not guilty to the first two counts and guilty to having no insurance or licence.
He will appear before Burnley magistrates on September 15.
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