A MAN from the North-East has died after he was caught in a high-speed chase in the US.

Paul Graham's devastated mother, Ann Brown, said her dying son hung on to life long enough to receive a visit from his eight-year-old daugher, before he suffered a brain haemorrhage.

"He was a loving dad. Alyson was the light of his life. I believe he held on long enough to see his daughter before he died.

"He was a very loyal man to his friends and family and we all loved him,'' said Mrs Brown, who lives in North Ormesby, Middlesbrough.

A university graduate, Mr Graham joined the RAF and met his former wife, Lesli, while he was posted in Jacksonville, US. Despite divorcing, the former RAF engineer stayed in the US to be near his daughter, Alyson.

Mrs Brown and her husband, Allan, Paul's stepfather, flew to the US for the funeral on September 20. She said the couple were impressed with how Paul was so highly thought of among his friends.

She said: "They looked up to him and said he was the driving force behind the rugby club."

Paul was killed when thieves crashed into his motorcycle as they escaped in a car pursued by the owner of a garage they had robbed.

Four men being held by police in the US for the robbery are expected to be charged with vehicle manslaughter, car-jacking and armed robbery.