A wife has told how she had to make a heart-breaking decision to switch off a life support machine after her husband lay in a coma for a month following a tragic accident.
Fred Baker, 78, of Thorrington Road, Great Bentley, was involved in a collision with an articulated lorry. Wife Joan said he was flown to Oxford's James Radcliffe Hospital.
She said: "For the first two weeks they were quite hopeful, but he had bad leg injuries and then his liver and kidneys gave up. We had to make a decision and I did not want him to suffer. It was the hardest decision of my life."
Mrs Baker said son Michael and daughter Linda had supported her through a very difficult time along with villagers in Great Bentley.
About 150 people packed into the funeral at St Mary's Church on Wednesday where tributes were paid to Mr Baker.
Mr Baker retired in 2001 after three decades running the Shoe Cabin in Kirby Cross. An inquest into his death has been opened and adjourned.
Published Tuesday July 13, 2004
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