A MAN who survived a car crash which ripped his head from his spine fulfilled his wish to get married, four days before asking medics to turn off his life support.

Tony Cowan lost control of his vehicle in his home town of Chester-le-Street in 2014 and suffered a serious neck injury which left him paralysed.

The Northern Echo: VOW: Karen and Tony Cowan with family and friends in hospital after tying the knot just four days before he died Picture: COUNTY DURHAM AND DARLINGTON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

VOW: Karen and Tony Cowan with family and friends in hospital after tying the knot just four days before he died Picture: County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Despite his condition he refused to be beaten down and with his partner of nearly 12 years fought to live as normal a life as possible.

But before Christmas the 31-year-old was in so much pain he made the tough decision to switch off the ventilator keeping him alive – not before keeping a promise made to his bride-to-be.

"We got married four days before he died in hospital (University Hospital of North Durham)," said proud wife Karen Cowan, 29.

"I went to visit him on the Friday (December 16) and by 4.45pm we were married. It was just with family.

"It was amazing and it was happy and sad because we knew what was coming. He always wanted to get married but we just never got round to it."

The pair said their vows in Mr Cowan's hospital room which was decorated by staff using fairy lights, sheets on chairs and aprons as ribbons.

Mrs Cowan, who wore jeans, boots and a blouse bought on the spur of the moment, praised the hospital team for their help and generosity which saw a matron run home to collect items from her recent wedding.

Although they had their wedding booked for May, Mr Cowan decided to bring it forward due to the pain he was in.

He was laid to rest with the wedding dress his bride would have worn.

"He would have carried on living like that, it was just the pain," she added.

"There was nothing they (doctors) could do."

Mrs Cowan was her husband's full-time carer and from March 2016 until December looked after him at their home.

Although he battled with pneumonia and chest infections which resulted in admissions to hospital, the pair spent every moment with each other.

"He just wanted to live as normal a life as possible," she said. "Even though he was the way he was he wanted a normal lifestyle.

"We would stay up late watching films, order takeaways. We were together all the time.

"I just want everyone to know how proud I was of him. He was strong and determined but it was the pain in the end that took him.

"If you were close he had the biggest heart. There was no one like him in the world."

An inquest into Mr Cowan's death at Crook Coroner's Court yesterday (January 25) concluded he died as a result of a road traffic collision.

Coroner Leslie Hamilton said the crash on September 9, 2015, led to his neck injury and left him dependent on a ventilator which he asked to be turned off.

PC Harry Iveson told the court a police investigation found Mr Cowan was driving "well in excess" of the 30mph speed limit on Front Street, Chester-le-Street, when he hit a speed hump and collided with a telegraph pole at around 7.23am.