THE family of an Oswaldtwistle man whose hand was run over by a train today claimed that he had not received enough medical help in the run-up to the accident.

David Whiteley, 39, was struck by a train travelling from Colne to Blackpool a mile outside Rishton station on Monday. He suffered a part amputation of a hand.

He had been staying with his sister, Deborah O'Connor, at her home on New Lane. She believes that the incident was a 'cry for help.'

After receiving treatment at Blackburn Royal Infirmary, David was transferred to Withington Hospital, Manchester, where doctors battled for six hours using the latest micro surgery techniques to save his thumb and index finger.

Deborah said she had asked for help on several occasions, including when David was admitted to the medical assessment unit at Queens Park Hospital last week.

She said: "He actually just needs someone to talk to him. He has a history of doing these things, but he has never been offered help.

"He may get some now, but it has taken something like this to happen. What does someone have to do to get some help?"

"Every time something happens he lands on my doorstep, but I don't know what to do. I'm not a health professional.

"He told me on Monday that he was going to do something, I tried talking him out of it all day. He disappeared at tea time and then he was found by the railway line."

David occasionally lives at an address on Albert Street, Oswaldtwistle. Dave Bommick who lives on the street said: "David is the nicest bloke you could ever wish to meet."

A spokesman for Queens Park Hospital said: "I understand that Mr Whiteley's family have expressed concerns to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph regarding his recent care in hospital.

"Following Mr Whiteley's admission to the Medical Assessment Unit on July 13, a full assessment was carried out by a liaison mental health nurse and a psychiatric doctor.

"Discussion also took place with the on-call consultant psychiatrist and a decision was made that Mr Whiteley did not require in-patient care within the Mental Health Unit.

"Mr Whiteley was given the contact details of the Community Liaison Service by the nurse who assessed him and was told that he could contact them if he felt that he needed further help."

Phillip Hesketh, mental health services manager at Queens Park Hospital will be contacting the family in the near future to discuss their concerns.