A HAMPSHIRE family has been hit by a second tragedy in just 18 months.

Last February, 11-year-old Ryan Crouch died after an accident with a van on the A326 in Hythe. He suffered severe head injuries and died in Southampton General Hospital two days later.

Now his family is coping with the death of after Ryan's father Neil. He was 40-years-old.

Mr Crouch had spent years battling diabetes. Further health difficulties with high blood pressure, renal failure and weight problems compounded his troubles.

It was a series of blood clots due to narrow arteries, thought to have been brought on by his diabetes, that led to his recent decline in health.

Mr Crouch, who lived in Beech Crescent at Netley View, Hythe, was a grandfather of three and had been in and out of hospital ever since Ryan died.

His widow Sharon, 46, said: "He was a real people person. He was everybody's friend and he loved his children and grandchildren.

"He started getting ill in April last year and had to have a toe amputated and then half a foot amputated and his kidneys were failing.

"He just seemed to go downhill after we lost Ryan - I don't think he ever got over that. He stayed strong for everyone else, but he was cracking up inside."

As reported in the Daily Echo, in 2003 Neil had to plead with health bosses to have a stomach stapling operation to help him lose weight as he weighed 23 stone.

He had the operation, known as bariatric surgery, three years ago. But last year, his health declined to the extent that he needed a kidney transplant - something he never received.

Mr Crouch, a former bartender at the Forest Home at Hardley and The Heath in Dibden Purlieu, had a blood clot on his heart in April this year and that led to smaller blood clots elsewhere in his body.

"He lost a lot of weight and felt a lot better after the stomach stapling," said Mrs Crouch.

"But his weight recently was down to ten stone, and that was too low.

"He never had the kidney transplant, but the doctors said it was down to his diabetes in the end as it was so bad for so long when he was younger."

Mr Crouch leaves two children, Scott, 20, and Leah, 14, and two step-children - Fiona and Christopher Byrne, aged 28 and 26. He also has three grandchildren aged six, three and 23 months.

The funeral will take place on Friday at 1.30pm at St John's Church in Hythe, followed by a burial at Blackfield Cemetery at 2.30pm.