GIFT OF LIFE: Family's pride as five live on thanks to Lee

THE mum of a young rugby player killed in a motorbike accident outside his South Yorkshire home has spoken of the moment he collapsed, dying, in her arms.

Lee Pocklington, aged 24, died from brain injuries three days after the fatal accident - and just two weeks after proposing to his girlfriend Sarah Wood.

Today his mum Joan told The Star: "We are a very close family and this has absolutely devastated us. That day, Lee had come round to our house for Sunday lunch with Sarah and said he was popping out on his motorbike.

"On his way back, when he was just outside our house, he had a terrible accident. He managed to walk to our front door where he collapsed into my arms - I think that is when we lost him."

Lee, a leading player with Barnsley Rugby Club where he was affectionately known as 'Pocko', was riding his bike outside his parents' home in Rookdale Close, Pogmoor, to recharge the battery when he was thrown off. He was not wearing a crash helmet.

The engineer from Corporation Street, Barnsley, was rushed to Barnsley Hospital where medics sent a CT scan of his brain to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield.

Doctors said they could operate, so he was whisked to the Hallamshire's specialist neuro department.

"When we got to Sheffield, the doctors made it clear the terrible situation Lee was in," said Joan. "They did all they could but he never awoke and three days later we were told there was nothing else they could do for him.

"Lee was a fantastic person and we miss him terribly. The only thing we cling on to is that we donated his organs, so five people are now living on through Lee. We know he would have wanted that."

Lee's family, his mum and dad Joan and Steve, his fiancée Sarah, his brother Craig and Craig's girlfriend Vicky, have already raised more than £3,000 for Neurocare, the charity which raises money for the hospital's neuro department.

Joan said: "People from outside Sheffield, like me, may not realise that many of the patients on the neuro wards at the Royal Hallamshire are from across South Yorkshire.

"The support we got as a family was amazing and despite losing Lee we wanted to do something to help because we know all was done by the staff to try to save him - they are very special people.

"All we can do now is put something back by supporting Neurocare."

The first Barnsley Rugby Club match after Lee's death was held in his memory and donations were made to Neurocare. All donations at Lee's funeral also went to the charity.

Joan said: "It has been an awful time. We are just doing all we can for Neurocare because to help one other person in a similar situation would be of real comfort to us."

Lee's family and his many friends, are now hoping to stage further fundraising for Neurocare.

n To donate to Neurocare email appeals@neurocare.org.uk, call 0114 267 6464, or send cheques made payable to 'Neurocare' to Neurocare, Lydgate House, 9 Lydgate Lane, Sheffield, S10 5FH.

Published Date: 06 March 2009 : The Star