A YOUNG Cynwyd man has stunned doctors with the speed of his recovery after receiving a serious head injury when he was knocked down.
Just three weeks since the incident, 22 year-old Henry Coates had pulled through a coma and has been allowed to return home.
Now he has spoken to the Free Press about his trauma and battle to return to a normal life.
Henry was walking along the A5 at Glyndyfrdwy in the early hours of Sunday, June 26, when the incident happened.
The other man, also 22, who has not been named, was released after treatment for minor injuries at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.
After initially being rushed by ambulance to the Wrexham Maelor Hospital, Henry was transferred to the specialist neurological unit at the Walton Centre in Liverpool.
After spending the first six days in a coma, he regained consciousness and began talking to parents Douglas and Carol Coates and his 26 year-old sister, Amy, who had jetted in from Malawi where she is doing voluntary work.
Henry, who works at Llangollen Wharf, continued to make rapid progress and was allowed to leave hospital on Friday.
He is now recovering at home.
Henry said: “I don’t feel 100 per cent but I’m a lot better than I was last week.
"The doctors say I have recovered surprisingly fast.
“I don’t remember a thing about what happened.
"I just recall going out and waking up in hospital a week later.
“It’s been a traumatic three weeks for me and my family but I’m now aiming to get back to normal as soon as possible.
"I’m a bit gutted that the doctors say I won’t be able to go back to work for three months at least.
“I would like to thank the staff at Walton for the treatment I received.”
Mrs Coates said: “The medical people were amazed by the speed of his recovery. They have told us it usually takes much longer than this in these cases.
“He is doing very well and is walking and talking normally.
“However, he is still very tired and has a pain over his right ear.
“The doctors have also told him he won’t be able to drive or work for some time yet.”
She added: “Watching Henry come out of the coma was incredible.
“He had just been taken off sedation and opened his eyes.
“He first recognised his dad and started to hug him and pat him on the back, then he asked to see me and Amy.
“Henry thought that while he was unconscious he had been on holiday somewhere or also that someone had been attacking him.
“We are just very glad to have him back with us.”