A devoted husband died heartbroken after accidentally knocking over his wife and killing her.

Dan Lewis, 87, from Grand Avenue, Worthing, had a brain haemorrhage and fell into a coma two days after Win, his wife of 58 years, died outside their retirement flat.

He ran over Win, 81, when his Rover automatic shot forward on to the lawn outside their flat in Worthing. She had head and leg injuries and paramedics could not save her.

Police are investigating but said Win's death was believed to be a freak accident.

Her son John Lewis, who lives in Allendale Avenue, Findon, said: "In a strange way I am glad they have both gone so close to each other. It is a small comfort but one that I think in time will provide us with a great deal of peace of mind.

"To know they are together in death is a nice thought, despite this being a distressing time for us all."

His father was on his way to a meeting of retired Seeboard workers on February 23, accompanied by Win, when the accident happened.

He was not injured and hospital staff released him.

The couple had only just moved to Parham Court from Shoreham and were looking forward to a summer in the new flat.

The official cause of Mrs Lewis' death will be given at an inquest later in the year.

Tyre tracks were visible on a lawn to the rear of the flats and police officers also made markings on the long driveway which runs the length of the property showing where the Rover came to rest.

The fact he died of a brain haemorrhage after the accident has led John Lewis to speculate his father may have passed out at the wheel of the car, causing the accident.

He said: "Both of them were as sharp as buttons and my father particularly was a bit of a tough guy. A real character.

"After the accident we had him up at our house and he stayed with us but the hospital asked for him to come back in because they were worried about him.

"His condition obviously worsened in hospital and we think he hung on to his life until we arrived to visit him so he could say goodbye. He was that kind of a person."

The couple's daughter, Pat Lewis, said her abiding memory of her mother and father would be their togetherness.

She said: "They literally went everywhere together and did everything together.

"They had always been like that. Neither could live without the other and vice-versa.

"It does sound strange but in a way it is nice that they have gone like this."

Speaking about her mother, Mrs Lewis joked: "Dad always brought her in a cup of tea every morning but she didn't actually like it. She was just too polite to say anything. She was like that."

Dan Lewis was awarded an MBE in 1985 for his 40 years of service as a trustee of Electricity Board pension fund.

The couple leave behind John and Pat and two grandchildren. A joint cremation is due to take place on March 8 in Findon.

Mr Lewis said: "I sat looking out into the garden the other day and it was funny. Dad always said he'd like to come back as a bird and suddenly this wood pigeon flew down followed almost immediately by another.

"They sat their side by side together and I just thought, yes that's mum and dad. They are together again."