AN OXFORDSHIRE schoolteacher has died after being injured in a crash at a wildlife sanctuary in Dubai.

Diana Parker, who had been living and working in Dubai with her husband Michael for the past four years, died reportedly from a heart attack at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford on Monday - eight weeks after the accident at the Ras Al Khor wildlife sanctuary.

The couple were parked at the wetlands sanctuary when a lorry veered into the parking area, shunting a car into the back of their vehicle.

The lorry driver, believed to be an Indian expat, is being held in prison in Dubai awaiting trial and is said to have told police that he "blacked out" before he left the road.

Mr and Mrs Parker were senior teachers at the Dubai English Speaking School.

Headteacher David Hammond said: "Diana made a great impact on the development of the school.

"She will be sadly missed by all the school community. She was an excellent professional and her contribution to the school was exceptional.

"She was admired, respected and loved by children, staff and parents and all our thoughts are with her family at this time."

Both Mr and Mrs Parker were badly hurt in the collision and were airlifted to the Rashid Hospital in Dubai.

Mrs Parker had multiple fractures, a broken spine and needed one leg amputated, according to reports from Dubai, while her husband broke both his legs and had to have a metal plate inserted into his head.

The pair, both in their 40s, were later airlifted to Oxford to receive further treatment at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

James Piecowye, a family friend and a professor at Zayed University, Dubai, said: "This has been an unbelievable tragedy.

"They were testing out their new digital camera at the sanctuary, taking pictures of the birds, and were just getting into their car when a lorry swerved off the road and smashed into a parked car, which then rammed into them.

"Michael was already in the car wearing his seatbelt but Diana was still climbing in and came off much worse.

"It has been an unbelievable chain of events. Michael contacted me on Monday night to say his wife had died and that he is absolutely devastated.

"The lorry driver has told police that he blacked out and that is why he left the road. His family visited the hospital begging for forgiveness as they want him out of prison."

The couple had no children but family members joined them in Dubai to help them recover and aid in their return home.

Oxford coroner Nicholas Gardiner has been informed of the death but a decision on whether or not to hold an inquest is not expected to be made until tomorrow.