THE daughters of a man who was stabbed and run over have spoken of their distress at watching him die.

John Smith battled to stay alive for ten weeks after the incident near his home in Broadway, Jaywick, on July 11.

He was able to tell his family what had happened after coming round from a coma after three weeks.

But the 58-year-old finally succumbed to his injuries on September 19.

His daughter Hayley Smith said: “He died slowly over ten weeks. Every single organ had been pierced.

“We thought he was going to get better. He was awake.

“He was hopeful up until the last two weeks, and then he kept saying he was going to die.

“He was in so much pain.”

Her sister Lulu Smith added: “They said it was a miracle that he survived the first night, but then it was just long and hard.

“They kept calling and saying this might be it because he kept bleeding and bleeding.”

Mr Smith’s injuries included wounds to every major organ in his body, and a split pancreas that leaked toxins that damaged him internally and caused arteries to burst.

But he summoned the strength to describe the attack, which he said involved a group of 11 people.

His relatives also heard he was run over twice by a car, which pinned him to the ground and crushed his body.

Hayley and Lulu described their dad, who would have turned 59 on Monday, as a loving family man, who was often seen walking his dog along the beach.

In a cruel twist, they said he had moved to Jaywick to enjoy a peaceful life by the seaside, less than a year before he was killed.

A 45-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman have been charged in relation to the incident.

Six other people, five men aged, 34, 40, 41, 42 and 27 and a 30-year-old woman, are on police a bail until the end of October.

Despite the charges, police have appealed for witnesses to come forward.

Mr Smith’s family believe witnesses are not coming forward because they are too scared, but having heard what their dad went through they are hoping people will reconsider.

Hayley added: “He was just a loving dad and grandad, he would help anyone. We really miss him and we just want someone to come forward if they know anything.”

Lulu added: “If anyone has got information, please call because there was no reason for this. The people that did it will do it again and it could be anyone’s relative next time.”

Anyone with information should call Clacton police on 0300 3334444, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.