A 20-year-old motorcyclist died two weeks after a he was involved in a road accident which left him with apparently non life-threatening injuries.

But builder Graham Johnson died on Sunday, 12 days after sustaining the injuries.

Mr Johnson, of Duke Street, Astley, was injured as he drove home from work on June 21 when, at 6.30pm, his Honda H100 99cc motorcycle was in a collision with a Vauxhall Astra Coupe at the junction of Newton Road and Sandy Lane, Lowton.

He was rushed to Bolton Royal Infirmary with a fractured right leg and a broken left wrist.

His parents, Alan and Sue, were at his bedside during his last moments, along with his 18-year-old brother Stephen, and girlfriend Karen Clayton, 20.

Yesterday, his shocked mum told the Journal: "We expected him to be home by now. We were told to take his trainers into hospital so he could start physiotherapy. We never imagined this."

The family learned of the complications after a leg operation last Saturday. Mr Johnson was struggling to breathe and was transferred into intensive care on Sunday night.

He was suffering from Adult Resistance Distress Syndrome, which occurs when marrow from the broken bone is released into the body, preventing the lungs from getting essential oxygen. This risk is present when large bones are broken or there is severe trauma.

Doctors told the family that Mr Johnson had a 50/50 chance of survival. His condition altered on a daily basis and they almost lost him three times during his week in intensive care.

Mrs Johnson said: "We had been preparing ourselves for the worst since last Tuesday. Saturday was his best day, he had stabilised and we were hopeful, only to be called on Sunday night to find he had got worse. We were always thinking this could be the last day."

His father said: "In the end, the machines were doing everything for him. But he made the decision to go himself, he took it out of our hands. All his friends had been to say their goodbyes and when he went it was almost as though he had been waiting."

The former Bedford High School pupil, who had worked at Ratcliffe's cycle and sports specialists shop in Bradshawgate, Leigh, had been riding motorcycles since the age of eight. His passion was BMX bikes, although he chose not to compete like brother Stephen, an experienced competition rider and schoolboy trials champion.

At the time of the crash, Mr Johnson had been riding his commuter bike, which belonged to his grandfather, and which he had used for a year.

His mother said: "Graham was a quiet lad, shy and sensitive. He wasn't into boozing and clubbing. He was so laid-back he would almost fall over.

"The most outrageous thing he did was get his belly-button pierced and he hid that from us for 18 months!"

Mr Johnson's funeral will be held at 1pm on Tuesday at Howe Bridge Crematorium, when his family and many friends will pay their last respects. TWO WHEELS ARE BETTER THAN FOUR: Graham Johnson enjoyed bike and motorcycle riding TRAGIC: Graham Johnson