A TRIMLEY St Mary couple have spoken of their vigil at the hospital bedside of their son, who was in collision with a motorbike.

By Tracey Sparling

tracey.sparling@ecng.co.uk

A TRIMLEY St Mary couple today told of their vigil at the hospital bedside of their son, who was in collision with a motorbike.

Ben Jones, 18, was out with friends on Saturday night. As he walked across the road his friends watched in horror as he was in collision with the motorcyclist.

The High Road resident and former Orwell High pupil was rushed to hospital, where he was found to have suffered severe internal injuries, and doctors feared his liver had ruptured.

But after a three-hour emergency operation and 24 hours fighting for his life in intensive care, Ben is today recovering on a ward at Ipswich Hospital.

A return to full fitness will be vital, if the keen footballer and Liverpool fan is ever to pursue his dream of becoming a PE teacher.

His parents Juli and Dai Jones are spending their time at his bedside and thanking their lucky stars for his survival after the accident which happened in Grange Farm Avenue at 9pm on Saturday.

Ben and a group of friends had been heading for a nightclub after having been to a barbecue.

Mrs Jones said: "He doesn't remember what happened. We just know he was crossing the road when it happened.

"He has been very, very lucky – well not lucky to have been in the accident, but he's lucky to have survived since.

"The doctors thought he had a ruptured liver at first but he's actually got two large tears in his bowel.

"He'll be in hospital for another week, and then he will be allowed home to convalesce.

Mr Jones said: "He's gradually recovering, slowly.

Mrs Jones said: "We are spending most of our time at the hospital with him."

The couple have two other sons, Luke, 20, Andrew, 17 and a ten-year-old daughter Rosie.

Ben had been due to attend a job interview yesterday which had to be cancelled.

His mother said he hoped to build a career as a PE teacher, so fighting back to full fitness is vital.

She added: "The doctors do not anticipate any long-term damage.

"At the moment it's a waiting game. He's been patched up and we have to wait and see if it works."

An Ipswich Hospital spokesman today described Ben's condition as "comfortable."

Suffolk Police are appealing for any witnesses to the incident to contact them on 01473 613500.

POLICE have today released names of the three people injured in a head on collision involving a car and a lorry near the USAF Lakenheath yesterday morning.

The truck driver Andrew Watts of Mill Hill, Bradenham, Thetford, was taken to Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge, suffering from crush injuries.

His passenger, Paul Watts, of the same address, was last night fighting for his life at the same hospital after he was catapulted from the cab and run over by the runaway lorry.

The driver of the Mini was named as Dawn Bujold, a US servicewoman from RAF Lakenheath who had to be cut free from the wreckage of her car after the accident at 7.15 am in Brandon Road, Eriswell.

Meanwhile later today police are expected to reveal the name of the 22 year old man who died after he was in collision with a lorry on the A14 at Bury St Edmunds.

ALED Jones, the 15-year-old cyclist who was injured in an accident with a car continues to be critical but stable in Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge.

Villagers at Ashfield, near Debenham, where the teenager lives are rallying round the family while his parents, Lewis and Denise and his older sister keep a vigil at his bedside.

Aled suffered head injuries when the bicycle he was riding was involved in a collision with a car on Sunday.

The Debenham High School pupil underwent an operation at Addenbrooke's.

A fan of skateboarding and rock music, Aled suffered the injuries in the accident on the road outside the family's semi-detached cottage.

He fell from his bicycle after it was involved in a collision with a grey Volvo Estate at about 8.50pm on Sunday.