A MOTHER left fighting for her life after seeing her young son die in a freak accident was moved out of intensive care yesterday.

Christine Veitch, 28, was transferred to a ward at Sunderland Royal Hospital, where her condition was described as poorly but stable last night.

She collapsed in shock after seeing son Robert slip and bang his head as he ran up the garden path in St John's Vale, Pennywell, Sunderland, on Tuesday night.

The nine-year-old was returning from a visit to his grandmother's house nearby, to deliver her Christmas present and show off his new shoes.

Mrs Veitch dashed outside to see her son lying lifeless on the path and swallowed her tongue during a panic attack.

She had stopped breathing before paramedics arrived, and needed emergency treatment in the ambulance as she was rushed to hospital.

Her husband, Robert, 30, and daughter Louise, seven, have been keeping a bedside vigil.

Doctors had told the family that the 48 hours following the accident would be crucial to Mrs Veitch's condition. They said there was a danger she might have suffered brain damage.

Yesterday, Detective Inspector Brian Young, of Sunderland West CID, said: "The young boy's mother is out of intensive care and has been transferred to a ward.

"She is still very poorly and the hospital says her condition is stable.

"The indications are that her condition is not life-threatening, but she will have quite a lengthy stay in hospital."

Det Insp Young said a report on the boy's death for the Sunderland Coroner was almost complete.

Witnesses are asked to call Sunderland West CID on 0191-454 7555