A TEENAGER chatted with his family after crashing his car but then died just hours later in intensive care.

Nicholas Hitchen suffered what paramedics and firefighters thought were just minor chest injuries when his modified Vauxhall Nova went out of control and hit safety barriers on Crostons Road, Bury on Thursday night (June 14).

The 19-year-old car enthusiast had to be cut free from his wrecked vehicle and was rushed to Bury General Hospital for treatment.

His grief stricken mum, Mrs Christine Hitchen, told the Bury Times: "He was talking all the time and everyone, including Nick and the emergency staff, were certain he would recover.

"Hours later he died in the intensive care unit. His injuries were probably more severe than they looked."

An inquest into the tragedy opens in Bury tomorrow (Wed June 20). Nicholas, of Whittingham Drive, Ramsbottom, and a friend, 19-year-old Christopher Howarth were travelling towards Bury town centre shortly before 9.45pm on Thursday when their vehicle left the road and crashed into the barriers off Lower Woodhill Road.

Christopher, of Nuttall Lane, Ramsbottom, suffered bruising and was released from hospital after treatment.

Nicholas's parents, Christine and dad Kevin, his two younger brothers and his girlfriend, Natalie Daisley, as well as his grandparents, were still coming to terms with the death of the Bury College student.

Mrs Hitchen said: "I don't know why he had gone to Bury in his car or how the accident happened. We'll have to wait until the inquest."

Friends and relatives will attend his funeral at Greenmount United Reformed Church in Holcombe Brook on Friday at 1pm followed by burial at Ramsbottom Cemetery.

Witnesses are being urged to contact Bury's traffic unit on 856 8072.

"We have been overwhelmed by the cards and words of sympathy from those who knew Nicholas," said his mum. "Nicholas was always willing to help out his friends and he was very popular."

Nicholas played for Woodbank FC until the age of 17 years and currently played Sunday league football for the Rose and Crown pub.

He worked part-time at the Jolly Carter pub in Bolton Road and he had just completed an NVQ in computer engineering.

His dad added: "Nicholas was making plans for the future."