'I had a funeral for my husband without knowing how he died'

A young widow has told how she had to organise her husband's funeral without knowing how he passed away. Louise Liddle was just 39 when her husband John died following a collision on the A694 Lockhaugh Road at Rowlands Gill in Gateshead.

- By NICOLE GOODWIN

Louise Liddle with her late husband John and their two children

Earlier this year Newcastle Coroner's Court heard that the 44-year-old dad was turning right into Sherburn Park Drive on his bike when he was struck from behind by a minibus which was overtaking. He was taken to Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) following the incident, which happened at 11.40pm on May 3, 2023.

However, John had suffered fatal head injuries and died on May 21. No criminal charges were brought against the driver. John's funeral was held around a month after his death.

Louise, who had to move from her Rowlands Gill home due to the trauma of the incident, said: "I had a funeral for my husband without knowing how he died. Police couldn't tell me anything because they hadn't been able to interview the driver.

"My kids were six and nine at the time and wanted to know how their dad had died but I wasn't able to give them those answers. My eldest had his ninth birthday in the hospital with John in the ICU.

"It was awful thinking 'please don't die on your son's birthday'. He was in a coma then and we knew that he wasn't going to wake up from it.