A WIDOW whose husband was killed in a jet ski crash in which she nearly died is desperate to remember the horrific accident so she can move on with her life.

Mother-of-five Deborah Hales is desperate to recall whether her husband, Ian, said anything to her moments before the crash which took his life.

Mrs Hales spent almost a month in hospital after the accident when the couple's jet ski hit a stanchion at Blackpool's North Pier on Good Friday last year.

Mrs Hales, aged 47, who had been a passenger on the jet ski, was found face down in the water unconscious and doctors told her family that she would be brain damaged and would spend at least three months in intensive care at Blackpool's Victoria Hospital. But she defied doctors when she woke from a coma after just six days. She still bears facial scars from the accident, and has had to undergone several operations on her jaw which was badly broken and remains numb.

Mrs Hales said the past year of her life has been "an extremely traumatic time," but her family have helped her to cope.

She spends time regularly with sons Jason, aged 27, Michael, aged 29, Martin, 23, Matthew, aged 18 and 19-year-old Joanne.

The Hales are set to commemorate their keen athlete father this weekend in a memorial race in his honour at Breightmet's Leverhulme Park - the running track which had become his second home.

Mr Hales was a long-standing member of Bolton Harriers athletics club, along with several of his children.

Mrs Hales, of Stockdale Grove, Breightmet, said: "I don't remember the accident at all, which makes it harder for me because I simply want to know for myself what happened.

"Part of me believes it happened, but I can't accept it because there's a little piece of the jigsaw I cannot fill in. It's so upsetting, and I just want to know for piece of mind."

The past few weeks have been particularly difficult for Mrs Hales, as Good Friday was the anniversary of the crash, and April 8 would have been her husband's birthday. He would have been 48.

The family visited his grave on the day, and Mrs Hales drove to Blackpool in the hope of memories coming back to her.

The couple met at just six years old, and were together for more than 40 years. Mrs Hales smiles when she says that her and Ian were "childhood sweethearts."

Money raised from in Sunday's 10k race, sponsored by Smith Knight Fay Audi, will be used to provide sports equipment for underprivileged youngsters, through the Ian Hales Trust Fund, set up by Deborah and her son Jason.

It is also hoped the fund can raise money for lifeboat charities and the Victoria Hospital.

Anyone wishing to enter the race, which starts at 10am, should turn up on the day. It will be preceded by a children's fun-run at 9am.

Donations can be made to the fund by cheque at Bolton's Knowsley Street branch of the Halifax bank.