A brave young Bermudian has died almost 18 years after suffering horrific injuries caused when his motorcycle collided with a bus.

Peter Carey Blyth, 35, who had been in a vegetative state for the past two years, died of a chest infection last Friday at a nursing home in Leamington Spa, England.

Mr. Blyth was 18 in July 1982 when his motorcycle was in collision with a Government bus near the Mid Ocean Club in Tucker's Town.

The former Saltus Grammar Primary student, who was then living at Harrington Sound in Smith's Parish, suffered two fractured legs, fractured vertebraes and a depressed compounded skull fracture.

Mr. Blyth was on vacation from Boston University, where he was studying engineering, at the time of the accident. He underwent treatment in the United States and Britain until his death.

He was able to walk in a stilted fashion, but was confined to a wheelchair in 1997 when he suffered severe post-traumatic epilepsy.

Last night his mother Wendy, a former Government Information Services officer, said Mr. Blyth's ashes will be brought back to his beloved Bermuda for a service of remembrance at St. Paul's Church, Paget, in March. His funeral will be held in his family's hometown of Northampton, England.

Mrs. Blyth said: "Peter was born in Bermuda and always considered himself to be Bermudian. He loved the ocean and water skiing and all things Bermudian, and that's part of the reason we're coming back to Bermuda.

"This accident changed our lives completely, but I know of no one who had greater strength and faith and courage than Peter.'' A Supreme Court judge in 1985 ruled that the Government bus driver was three quarters to blame for the accident. Mr. Blyth was adjudged to be a quarter responsible.

The family fought an eight-year legal battle after the accident to secure compensation for Mr. Blyth. An out-of-court settlement was reached in 1990 for an undisclosed sum to meet his medical needs for the rest of his life.

Mr. Blyth is survived by his mother and father, Desmond, his sister Katherine, brother-in-law Jonathan and his nieces Meaghan and Paige.

A death notice in yesterday's paper read: "A funeral service for Peter will be held in Northampton, England.

"A memorial service to celebrate Peter's struggle and bravery over nearly 18 years will be held in Bermuda, his beloved home, at a later date, to be announced.'' BERMUDIAN BDA