A couple have been struck by a second family tragedy with the death of their 30-year-old son from suspected meningitis.

Paul and Hazel Crowther today spoke of their shock and grief at the loss of their son Matthew who died in hospital after suddenly falling ill.

The couple, who also have a 28-year-old daughter Andrea with learning difficulties, lost their youngest child Julie eight years ago when she suffered a brain haemorrhage while out partying with friends. She was just 17.

Matthew, who lived with his parents in Pollard Way, Gomersal, had been due to fly out to see-in the new Millennium in Tenerife with his best friend Keirnan Brook, of Hightown, Liversedge.

His life-long pal, who went on holiday alone, unaware of the seriousness of Matthew's condition, was due back in Britain early today.

Mrs Crowther, 59, said: "We've suffered more tragedy than most families will ever encounter but we wouldn't have changed anything.

"It's very hard to have to go through it all again - we were very close to our son."

Matthew, who was an unemployed electrician, fell ill late on Christmas Day and went to bed complaining of a headache.

After spending most of Boxing Day in bed, his father began to worry about him and at tea-time called an ambulance after discovering him semi-conscious and sweating.

Paramedics who took Matthew to Dewsbury District Hospital told the family he had the symptoms of meningitis - although he never developed a rash.

Matthew never recovered.

Results of an autopsy held yesterday are due to confirm the cause of his death next week.

Mr Crowther, who retired from his job at Timberwise in Yeadon on New Year's Eve, said: "I'd taken him a cup of tea at midday and when I went back up later I noticed he hadn't touched it.

"He was in a terrible state, he went straight into intensive care and he never regained consciousness.

"I told Keirnan to go to Tenerife because I knew he needed the break.

"The pair of them were great friends, they'd grown up together and never fell out."

Mrs Crowther, who is a principal officer for community development atKirklees Council, said her son doted on his sister Andrea.

Mrs Crowther said: "He spent a lot of time at home caring for Andrea, teaching her how to work the computer and doing jigsaws.

"They looked after each other, they were very close."

A former pupil of Whitcliffe Mount School in Cleckheaton, Matthew had worked for DB Haigh electrical contractors in Brighouse until it closed in the early 1990s.

The couple's daughter Julie died in 1992 when an artery in her neck ruptured while she was enjoying a night-out with friends.

An A-level student also at Whitcliffe Mount School, Julie was on a leaving-do with workmates from the Happy Eater Restaurant in Birstall, where she worked part-time when the tragedy occurred.

Doctors later told the couple the condition could have been easily operated upon if medics had known about it.

On Tuesday, Matthew will be buried at the same plot as his sister at St Mary's Parish Church in Shirley Road, Gomersal.

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