Parents of 23-year-old Hainault hit-and-run victim recall nightmare fortnight and beg driver to come forward

Lee in happier times (Image: Archant)

Lee Rose was hit while on a night out with his friends who made frantic attempts to resuscitate him by the side of the road.

A trainee nurse who was driving past stopped to help and Lee was taken to hospital, where he “died” twice and underwent hours of operations which involved a quarter of his skull being removed.

The driver is yet to be caught.

Carol Rose, who lives with her son Lee in Marlyon Road, Hainault, said: “The hospital phoned and said there had been a serious accident and Lee died at the scene and just died again. I just remember running down the road to the cab station.”

Lee had been to a party in Gants Hill and had just got off a bus in High Road, Leytonstone at about 12.30am.

Friend Matthew Daly, 23, of Manford Way, Hainault, said: “There was a car driving erratically and it missed us by inches but hit Lee. He was thrown into the air. We thought he was dead.

“Some of my friends tried to revive him and did mouth-to-mouth. He’s only just got out of intensive care.”

The trainee nurse, known only as Laura, was driving past and saw the friends’ frenzied attempts to bring Lee back to life.

Mrs Rose said that if it was not for Laura stopping to help her son, he would have died at the side of the road.

She said: “She brought him back to life. I would love to see this woman. I would give her everything, as if it was not for her he would have gone.”

Lee’s dad Alex Dowie, 43, said: “Think if it was your own kid. How can you just drive away from something like that? It’s not right. I just want them caught.”

- The incident happened on Sunday April 21 involving a dark grey seven seater. Call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.