A MAN who cheated death when a bike crash left him in a coma for two months today spoke about his future with his bride-to-be.

Stephen Ribchester says he has been to hell and back after a cycling accident in December 1989.

For eight weeks Stephen, who was then 21, lay in a deep coma after he was flung head-first over the handlebars of his bike.

It is only now, having met Amanda Goode six months ago, that he can look forward to the future with any kind of conviction.

The 32-year-old said: "The best thing that ever happened to me was meeting Amanda.

"At the time I was making my life a mess but Amanda made everything seem better."

After the accident Stephen was out on a life-support machine for 12 days.

But when doctors eventually turned the ventilator off Stephen clung to life and managed to keep breathing unaided.

He made an emotional return to the family home he shared with then girlfriend and two young children in time for Christmas 1989.

But the relationship failed soon after and Stephen blames this on his brush with death.

He said: "I was in a bad way after the accident and we split up about three or four months of me coming out of the hospital." Things got worse for Stephen when he found himself homeless and for nine months he stayed in a hostel in Darwen where he met Amanda, who had arrived in East Lancashire from London.

Stephen, who has been unable to work since the accident and still walks with the aid of a stick, said: "I was very low at that time but then I met Amanda.

"Now everything is great and life gets better and better.

"I have a beautiful home, a beautiful wife to be and her three beautiful children.

"I can look forward to the future now whereas before I had nothing."

Stephen and Amanda, of Ivinson Road, Darwen, are getting married on December 9 at Blackburn Register Office.

Picture: A kiss from Stephen for bride-to-be Amanda