A FORMER Newport boxer who was fighting for her life in hospital just over a month ago is now back on her feet.

Rachael Buckland, a former bantamweight Welsh champion, was in an induced coma in hospital and had to have part of her brain removed after she fell down the stairs at the beginning of October.

However, after just two months the 25-year-old is out of her coma, speaking and was recently recorded having a sparring match with her husband Mitchell, 23.

Her father-in-law Gary Buckland said her recovery has been a “complete miracle” and that the family are delighted to see her up and about.

He said: “She’s doing great, she’s been doing a bit of sparring with Mitchell and she’s up and moving about.

“She’s improving every week and can’t wait to come out [of hospital]."

After Mrs Buckland fully came out of the coma at the beginning of November, she was able to speak and recognise her family but could not speak full sentences.

Her husband, Mitchell Buckland, who is Newport's undefeated Celtic boxing champion, said he couldn’t contain his happiness at his wife’s fast recovery.

“I am absolutely chuffed. I am the happiest guy alive at the moment, it’s amazing,” he said.

However, her father-in-law said although Mrs Buckland is now able to hold a proper conversation, although she is sometimes forgetting what people have spoken to her about.

“You can have a sensible conversation with her but if you say something to her at the moment she will talk to you about the same thing the day after,” Mr Buckland said.

“There’s a bit of confusion with that but other than that the steps she’s making are tremendous.

"She was talking to me the other day and she said 'it's going to take more than a fall down the stairs to kill me'."

At the moment, Mrs Buckland is waiting for surgery to have a metal plate fitted to her skull, which is said to be taking place in the next month or so.