A father involved in a car crash that killed one of his daughters has lost his fight for life - never knowing she had died.

Bevan Wright, of Wibsey, suffered severe multiple fractures to his legs and body in the head-on collision with a cement mixer. He was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary following the accident two weeks ago. He had been in intensive care but lost his fight for life on Thursday.

The 58-year-old was a dyer at ATC Dyers in Buttershaw and was a member of the Bradford Cine and Home Video Club.

The crash, on the B6401 road near Kelso, claimed the life of his 31-year-old daughter, Joanne.

Her funeral was due to take place later this week but it has now been cancelled and it is believed a joint service could be arranged.

Mr Wright's 27-year-old daughter Sarah was also in the family Peugeot 405 and suffered neck and leg injuries. She is in intensive care at the Borders General Hospital, where staff today described her condition as "stable".

Mr Wright's cousin, Marian Townsend, said he was not told his eldest daughter had been killed in the crash. And his other daughter does not know her father and sister are dead.

She said Mr Wright had been devoted to his wife Susan, who died from a muscle-wasting disease inherited by the couple's daughters. She added: "He would do a full day's work and then come home and do everything there. Everyone used to call him a hero - he was a wonderful husband and father.

"He hadn't got over his wife's death although we were all helping him as much as we could."

The daughters lived at a Bradford Council-run residential home in Reevy Road.

Social Services assistant director Alison O'Sullivan said: "This is a terrible tragedy for Sarah but she has many friends in Bradford, many of them at Reevy Road, and they will be giving her all the support they can.''

The family were returning from a two-week stay with Angela Freeland-Cook, Mr Wright's late wife's cousin, in holiday cottages near Kelso when the accident happened.

She said: "I should imagine the funerals of both of them will take place at the same time. Sarah is hopefully going to be transferred to Bradford Royal Infirmary as soon as there is a place for her. She will go back to the residential home, I would think.''

Bradford Camcorder Users Group member Joan Copley said: "He didn't deserve this because he was a wonderful person. Everyone is really upset.''

Anthony Greenwood, managing director of ATC Dyers, said Mr Wright had worked for the company for 23 years. "He will be a hard act to follow and greatly missed,'' he added.

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