THE daughter of hit and run victim Lee Navesey says her dad is lucky to be alive.
The self-employed bricklayer, 53, was left with severe internal injuries after being struck by a car on Crompton Way on Saturday, November 30.
But Mr Navesey’s beloved pet Shih Tzus, Cindy and Crystal, failed to survive the impact of the collision.
A silver Toyota Yaris car, thought to have been involved in the crash, ha been recovered by Greater Manchester Police. However, no arrests had been made at the time of going to press.
And the Correspondent can reveal the near tragedy happened only a few yards from the spot where Mr Navesey led daughter, Demilee, across the busy A663 on the way to her wedding at East Crompton St James Church back in September.
Two months later and returning from his regular evening walk with the dogs, he was left for dead in the horrific incident.
He was rushed to Manchester Royal Infirmary suffering from seven fractured ribs, a collapsed lung, a bruised liver and a broken leg. There were also numerous external injuries.
Mr Navesey is now recovering at home ahead of an MRI scan in the new year.
“One of the nurses who attended at the scene went to visit dad because she works at the MRI,” explained daughter Demilee Morgan.
“My mum (Lisa) said, ‘Will you tell him how badly he was hurt?’ because he kept saying he was going home. I don’t think he realised how badly he was injured.
“I have had messages from people who were at the scene saying how lucky he is to still be alive.
“It sounds awful but one of the dogs took the impact and went under the wheel.
“Since then everyone has been offering him dogs. But Cindy and Crystal were his and mum’s best friends and he is just not interested.
“I just want him better. He has his good days and his down days.
“His lung is still collapsed and he has a protective boot on his leg. But I think it’s more the mental side now that is affecting him.
“He is the main breadwinner, but we are not sure when he will be back at work.
“The doctors decided they wouldn’t operate on his ribs but they have just been left to heal themselves.”
Since the incident, the community has rallied round with a raffle for a Christmas hamper at Tesco Express on Market Street raising £600.
Constable Jon Gorton of GMP’s Road Policing Unit added: “This was a terrible and saddening incident that has left a man in hospital with serious injuries and has taken away the lives of his beloved pets.
“We know that Crompton Way can be a busy area of Shaw, particularly on a Saturday evening, and are keen to speak to anyone that may have been around the area on the evening of Saturday 30 November between 6.30pm and 7pm that may have seen this incident occur or have dash cam footage that could help our investigation.”
Officers are appealing for any witnesses to come forward with information or dash cam footage by contacting police on 0161 856 8844 quoting incident number 2590 of 30/11/2019.
Details can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on
0800 555 111.