HEARTBROKEN Ruth Winston-Jones has told of the desperation she felt as her baby son slipped away.

The Holyhead mum wept as she spoke of tragic Luke's final moments.

Devastated Ruth said: "I have lost my best friend and the sunshine of my life."

Ten-month-old Luke - the subject of a long-running right-to-life battle - died at Liverpool's Alder Hey hospital on Friday morning with his mother and close relatives at his bedside.

The terminally-ill baby never left hospital during his brief life.

The 35-year-old paid tribute to her "brave fighter".

And she told how she collapsed to the floor to beg doctors to save his life.

Last month Dame Elizabeth Sloss ruled doctors could withhold treatment from Luke who was born with a rare genetic disorder and three holes in his heart.

His mum fought the application lodged jointly by North West Wales and the Royal Liverpool Children's NHS trusts.

But Ruth said she felt "let down" by Alder Hey hospital where Luke died at 3am yesterday.

She said: "He went painfully. He was in the high dependency ward which ironically is number 13.

"I would like to pay tribute to my son. I have lost my best friend and the sunshine in my life.

"Luke's sister and brother Sophie and Andrew have lost a wonderful darling brother.

"He fought so hard and Alder Hey let him down."

Recalling his final moments she added: "I ran around the room trying to find the air line that he had been using. But it was not there.

"I begged the doctor on my hands and knees to give Luke adrenaline to help him.

"He had the virus that all of us have had over the past few weeks and if he had been given adrenaline he would have recovered."

Because of the pending inquest into Luke's death the hospital was unable to comment on the claims.

Luke's aunt Jacqui Kirkwood last night called for an inquiry into the baby boy's treatment in his final hours.

She said: "The whole family is grieving but we are angry as well because of the actions of the medical staff.

"Ruth had left Luke at 12.20 last night and he was fine. She was called back an hour later after he developed a slight temperature."

Mrs Kirkwood said: "We want a full inquiry into what happened. We will not let this rest."

Muiris Lyons, Ms Winston-Jones' solicitor, said: "Luke was much loved by his mother and family.

"Luke's family have raised concern about the treatment he received immediately before he died with particular regard to his resuscitation and we anticipate that there will now be an inquest into Luke's death."

But a spokeswoman for Alder Hey insisted every effort was made to save the terminally-ill tot.

A spokeswoman said: "Senior clinicians at the trust were present at the time and attempted to resuscitate Luke. "Luke's condition had significantly deteriorated over the past 48 hours and so despite extensive resuscitation, lasting over an hour, we were unsuccessful.

"The trust is confident that it has always acted in the best interests of Luke and have fully complied with the recent ruling from the High Court.

"We believe that Luke and his family have received the best care available to him at all times. Luke's family are now being supported by our bereavement care team.

"As this case may be the subject of a coroner's investigation, we are unable to comment further at this stage."

A spokesman for Ysbyty Gwynedd said last night: "It was with sadness that staff at Ysbyty Gwynedd heard this morning of the death of Luke Winston-Jones.

"The thoughts of the hospital's staff, especially the doctors and nurses who cared for Luke, are with his mother and family during this sad and difficult time."

The Duchess of York had taken a close personal interest in Luke's plight and had planned to visit him upon his return to the Bangor hospital.

A spokeswoman for her office said: "The Duchess won't be making any public comment but she will be offering her thoughts to the family privately."

Ruth spoke to Merseyside police following Luke's death urging them to launch an investigation.

Liverpool north area commander chief superintendent Mike Langdon, said: "As would be normal practice, Luke's death has been referred to the Liverpool Coroner and a Family Liaison Officer has been appointed to offer support to the family.

"I can confirm that Merseyside Police will be liaising with other agencies and gathering information under our comprehensive protocols for infant deaths." "This information will then be presented to the Coroner for his consideration."

Luke was given only days to live after being diagnosed with the rare genetic disorder Edwards syndrome soon after he was born.

He weighed 3lbs 8oz when delivered at Ysbyty Gwynedd through emergency section and immediately underwent treatment at both Alder Hey and the Liverpool Women's Hospital.

Within six weeks Luke found himself unwittingly at the centre of legal wranglings for the first time in his short life.

His family demanded that Alder Hey - where he was transferred shortly after being diagnosed operate on him.

But the hospital refused because of the trauma and the remote chance of him surviving.

Mum Ruth began legal action to demand surgery went ahead, lodging papers with the High Court.

The action did not go ahead. He was transferred back to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Spring.

In July, the hospital started proceedings to ask the High Court for a ruling on whether it must continue to treat seriously-ill Luke.

Bosses believed his situation was hopeless while Luke's family accused them of "acting as God".

But less than 48 hours before the case was due to be heard, North West Wales NHS Trust postponed its application following "on-going discussions with the trust and with other hospitals".

Relations continued to worsen and hit a low in September when Ruth was banned from Luke's hospital bedside except for the 60 minutes a day allowed by health bosses.

She was told she could only ring the hospital to check on his condition.

The hospital claimed her behaviour forced them into making the ban.

On October 5 this year Luke was transferred to Alder Hey for medical tests.

One week later, the trust, along with Ysbyty Gwynedd, lodged papers with the High Court once more to decide on Luke's future.

The family fought all the way. Ruth accused health chiefs of "sending him to the grave" and insisted he had a quality of life.

She contrasted his condition with that of Portsmouth baby Charlotte Wyatt.

A High Court judge had ruled in a virtually identical case the previous week she should be allowed to die.

Following a two-day High Court hearing Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss ruled Luke should not receive ventilation but should continue to have cardiac massage if his condition worsened.

An inquest into Luke's death is expected to be opened and adjourned by Liverpool coroner Andre Rebello today.