A HERO paralysed while preventing a runaway car from ploughing into a group of children has died just weeks before he was due to get married.

Lez Saunders suffered severe spinal injuries after being crushed against a tree by the Renault he was repairing six years ago.

He ended up in a wheelchair after diving underneath the car as it hurtled towards a gang of youngsters.

The 45-year-old died peacefully at his home in Cambridge Close, Lower Audley, Blackburn, on Saturday.

He was due to marry girlfriend Debbie Yates, 26, who is also in a wheelchair, in December in a ceremony at Ewood Park.

She said today: "I loved him dearly. He never spoke about the accident and everyone will remember him as a kind, gentle, funny man. I couldn't go anywhere without people stopping him to say hello.

"We've been trying to get married for over three years but have had to put it off every time because he's been in and out of hospital.

"He wanted to get married more than anything and was really looking forward to it. "He wasn't a Rovers fan - he supported Everton. But we wanted our day to be special so we chose Ewood Park."

His best friend, Stuart Sedgwick, 31, added: "All his close friends were relieved Lez went in the end because he was in so much pain.

"He was a different man after the accident. It changed his life completely but he never once spoke about it.

"He saved the lives of children and in the end it killed him. But those kids would have always come first."

An inquest was opened by coroner Andre Rebello at Blackburn yesterday.

Home Office pathologist Dr William Lawler said Mr Saunders died as a result of pneumonia and other complications caused by his severe injuries.

Mr Rebello adjourned the hearing until November 25.

He said: "His death could be a direct result of the road traffic accident in 1991."

Liverpool-born Mr Saunders, who has three brothers and three sisters living in the Chester area, battled to lead as normal a life as possible after the accident outside his former home in Reeth Way, Accrington. He arrived home to a hero's welcome after spending two months in a special orthopaedic hospital and vowed to devote his time to fighting for the disabled. He also counselled local paraplegics.

A funeral service will take place at Pleasington Cemetery at 11am on October 6.

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