A MOTHER was fighting for her life last night - after seeing her nine-year-old son die in a freak accident.

Robert Veitch slipped on a wet path as he returned from his grandmother's house after delivering her Christmas present and fatally banged his head.

His mother Christine, 28, dashed outside and swallowed her tongue during a panic attack when she saw him lying lifeless on the path.

Christine's husband Robert and daughter Louise, seven, were last night at her bedside in Sunderland Royal Hospital.

Mr Veitch, 30, said: "The hospital has told us the next 48 hours will be crucial and we are praying for signs of improvement.

"At the moment she doesn't know who we are and there is a danger she has suffered brain damage, we don't know yet.

"I can't describe how I feel at the moment. I am numb with shock. It is terrible."

He added: "I've lost my son and my wife is in a desperate state. I am devastated and words can't express how I feel."

Last night, he was being comforted at his parents' home.

Robert had dashed to his gran Bernadette Veitch's home 100 yards from his house to hand over the present and show off his new shoes. She then watched from the garden gate as Robert ran home.

Bernadette said: "Robert was on his garden path when he slipped and fell backwards and hit his head.

"His dad Rob came out when he heard him fall, but Christine saw what had happened and had a panic attack."

Christine needed emergency treatment in the ambulance because she had stopped breathing.

Detective Inspector Brian Young, of Sunderland CID, said: "Our thoughts and sympathies are with the family at this time.

"They are naturally devastated by what has happened and need as much help as they can get."

Robert was a pupil at South Hylton Primary School, Sunderland.

A school spokesman said that headteacher Eric Brown had visited the family yesterday offering sympathy and support, and prayers were said at morning assembly.

The spokesman added: "We are all in a state of shock. Robert was a lovely lad and didn't have a mean bone in his body."