A family is reeling after being struck twice by tragedy in six months.

A tearful Kenneth Brown today attended the opening of an inquest into the death of his daughter, 18-year-old Leanne - just six months after losing his three-year-old son Tyran from meningitis.

"We had not got over Tyran's death,'' said mini bus driver Mr Brown, after the inquest into his daughter's death was adjourned for further inquiries.

"He was well one minute, then gone the next,'' Mr Brown said.

Only last October, Leanne had survived a car crash in which 23-year-old pal, Lee Winspear was killed.

She had been a passenger in the car which heroin addict Lee had been driving, when it took a bend too fast and slammed into a metal pole and a wall.

Mr Brown said: "She lost her little brother in January. She has been really depressed. Everybody has been telling her of their troubles. She has taken it all on board.

"She was bubbly; the life and soul.''

The father of ten said Leanne had been devastated by her little brother's death.

Leanne, who lived with parents Kenneth and Janice and the family in Willow Walk, Loftus, east Cleveland, was admitted to the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, on July 2 and died there the following day.

Mr Brown said: "She did not mean to kill herself.''

Hammie (COR), another of Leanne's brothers, is still recovering after being involved in a car crash last August.

"My son had a car crash in August and nearly died,'' said Mr Brown. "It has been a bad 14 to 15 months.''

The car driven by Lee Winspear rolled over several times after smashing into the pole and wall on the Stanghow Road between Skelton and Lingdale.