Bedside vigil for road rage victim (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Bedside vigil for road rage victim

Beech Avenue where the incident took placeTHE family of a man mown down in a road rage incident in Pinehurst have been keeping a vigil at his bedside.

Philip England, 53, was visiting his younger brother, John, 51, of Graham Street, when he was knocked down after a row over a traffic calming measure.

Retired lorry driver, Philip, from Gwent, is in intensive care at the Great Western Hospital and his wife and four children have rushed to be with him.

His wife Jackie, 49, got the call from John at home in Wales in the early hours of the morning last Thursday.

She said: "At first he played it down because he didn't want to worry me but I know what John is like and he was in a mess."

Her eldest daughter, Paula, 28, drove her to Swindon and Jackie arrived at the hospital at 4am.

Since then she has been at his bedside and has been given a room at the GWH until her husband of 29 years is out of intensive care.

The couple's children have also been visiting and their son, James, 24, flew back from Germany where he is based with the army. Jackie said: "It's been a nightmare. It's not just what Philip is going through but all the family and friends.

"We are so shocked and he is really lucky to be alive.

"The phone hasn't stopped with people ringing to see how he is.

"Everyone is worried sick. Philip would do anything for anyone, he wouldn't hurt a fly."

"He is still in intensive care," Jackie said. "The doctors don't know when he will be out.

"He regains consciousness now and then but as soon as his eyes open they close again.

"I will be here until whatever happens."

Philip's brother John, a self-employed plumber, was a passenger in the car when the incident happened.

He looked on in horror as his brother was run over.

He said: "It was shocking, I just lost it. When I got to the hospital I told the doctor that Jackie lives in Wales. He asked me to call her. That's when I realised how serious it was."

Despite the trauma of what has happened the family say the staff at the hospital have done their best to make it easy on them.

A 26-year-old man from Rodbourne has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm and failing to stop after a collision.

He has been bailed to appear at Swindon Magistrates Court on Thursday, September 1.

Gareth Bethell