A DAD is fighting for his life after he was seriously injured in a suspected hit and run as he cycled through Basildon.

Shay Joyner was cycling to pick up some pain relief for a sore tooth when he was struck by a car as he crossed Broadmayne on Saturday.

The 23-year-old’s mum, Caryn Joyner, has been left distraught and does not know whether her son will survive as she is not allowed to visit him in hospital due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Caryn, 50, told the Echo: “A witness saw my son cycle past just before he was hit. She heard a loud bang and a scream.

“She and her husband ran out there and luckily the police had spotted him in the road at the same time as they were attending to another incident.

“The ambulance arrived within minutes and worked on him for about 45 minutes.”

Caryn got a call from officers telling her what had happened and that she should go to Basildon Hospital where her son was.

But because of the hospital’s lockdown measures, she wasn’t allowed to see Shay but while he was being moved to intensive care Caryn did see her son and was able to kiss his head and tell him she loves him.

Dad-of-one Shay was moved to Queen’s Hospital, Romford, on Sunday, and the mum-of-three wasn’t notified of his arrival and received an update around five hours later to say he was stable.

More than 24 hours later, Caryn received a call explaining how Shay’s condition had worsened and he had swelling on the brain which could be fatal. Despite the horrific possibility of Shay not recovering, she is still unable to see him.

Caryn added: “I’ve been told I could only visit if it was end of life, but he is critical and can become fatal at anytime, so I’m only allowed to see him if he dies.

“I am in a state of shock. I totally understand not being able to visit because of the pandemic but he hasn’t just come into A&E, he’s been hit by a car and is in a coma.

“He is my son, my world. I just want to be able to send him a video that can be played to him telling him I love him or see him through a window.

“His five-year-old son is also wondering why his daddy hasn’t been in touch and we are having to spare him the horrific truth and say his daddy is in hospital for his tooth and isn’t allowed a phone.

“They can open B&Q and The Range but I can’t see my son in a coma?”

Mum Caryn believes next-of-kin should be able to see non-covid 19 patients who are in a critical condition.

A Basildon Hospital spokesperson acknowledge the “very difficult time for visitors wanting to see their loved ones” but said restrictions are in place for the safety of patients and staff.

A man has been arrested in connection with the incident and released under investigation.