A GRANDMOTHER who died following a car crash devoted her life to helping other people, her devastated family have said today.

A GRANDMOTHER who died following a car crash devoted her life to helping other people, her devastated family have said today.

Joy Spratt, 81, died at Ipswich Hospital on Sunday after suffering serious injuries in a car crash on the B1069 at Tunstall on Friday August 21.

Also in the car with her at the time was her disabled 21-year-old granddaughter Sam Miller who her family say has been left traumatised following the accident.

Mrs Spratt, who had worked at St Clements Hospital for 25 years as an occupational therapist, lived in Tasmania Road with her husband of 32 years, Les.

He said that his wife had been to Sizewell for a day out with friends and her granddaughter.

Mr Spratt said he raced to the scene of the accident after receiving a call from the driver of the car which his wife was travelling in.

“I just thought I was going down there to pick them all up and bring them home,” the 72-year-old said.

“I was in shock when I got there because my wife was still being helped out of her car and transported to Ipswich Hospital and my granddaughter was being seen by paramedics.”

Mr Spratt said on the Monday after the accident his wife was smiling and joking. He even prepared a bed for her in the lounge of their home ready for her return. But her situation deteriorated and she passed away on Sunday after Mr Spratt and his wife's daughter Jenny Miller, 50, had kept a bedside vigil since Saturday morning.

Mr Spratt said after working at St Clements Hospital, his wife, who was born in Wickham Market, ran the Pathway Club in Woodbridge, which helps those with mental disabilities.

“She was a wonderful person,” said Mr Spratt. “She was a Joy by name and a joy by nature. It was her life and work. She enjoyed it so much when she was at St Clements.

“All of her patients were her friends and the phone was always going with one of her patients and she was always giving advice. We had a lovely happy life and I will miss her like hell.”

Her daughter Mrs Miller, whose daughter Sam was in the accident, said: “She was my mum. You only get one in life and mine has been taken from me. She had 11 days of suffering in hospital for nothing and that is what makes it so hard for me.”

Mrs Spratt lived much of her life in Woodbridge and her father Stanley Hawes ran a popular fish and chip shop in the town.

She was travelling in a grey Vauxhall Astra heading towards Ipswich when the crash occurred just before 4.10pm. The car was in collision with a blue Renault Megane. Five other people, including a 70-year-old woman who was seriously injured, were taken to hospital after the collision.

Anyone who saw the crash is asked to telephone the serious collision investigation team at Suffolk police headquarters on 01473 613500.