THE family of a Newport teenager left with severe brain injuries following a rugby match last year say he is showing signs of recovery at a specialist hospital in Leeds.

David Griffiths, 17, spent six weeks in a coma after suffering a massive blood clot on his brain following an innocuous knock to the head during a match for Pill Harriers Youth XV last February.

The former Lliswerry Comprehensive pupil, who will celebrate his 18th birthday next week, now needs constant care as he struggles to regain his basic life skills.

In July, the Argus revealed that David's parents, Mandy and Roger Griffiths, were struggling to get their son the necessary rehabilitation and intensive therapy he required.

Following our story, Newport social services and Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust announced they would fund a two-month assessment for David at Daniel Yorath House, in Leeds. The funding is still in place and David is continuing his treatment at the Leeds hospital.

David's mother Mandy said: "He is showing some signs of recovery, and at first I thought he was coming on quite well, but it has been slow.

"He is very unhappy about being so far from home and is not complying as well as we would have liked, but we were not expecting miracles.

"He can stand up on his own now, which is a big improvement for us, and he has made friends and knows all the staff. But it is slow and we would all like him to be closer to home." When David turns 18 his family hope he can secure a place at Beechwood House clinic in Pontypool.

"That is something we would like," said Mrs Griffiths, "but we will have to wait and see."

And she also thanked all the people who have raised money to help the family adapt their new home to suit David's needs. "Everybody has been brilliant to us and we would like to thank all of them for their help."

l The Daniel Yorath Centre is run by the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Tru-st, and was named after the son of former Wales football manager and player Terry Yorath.

Daniel, who was raised in Leeds, died suddenly in 1992 from a rare heart condition.