The Aberdeen man critically injured in a Maltese bus crash earlier this month has woken up from an induced coma and begun speaking to his family.
Now out of intensive care, Simon Morrison has been able to give “one word answers” to the relatives who have been at his bedside since he was transferred to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary at the weekend.
The 42-year-old Middlefield Wasps football coach, who had recently recovered from a stroke, was on holiday with his sister Suzanne Henderson, her husband Michael and their two children when tragedy struck.
Football coach injured in Malta open-top bus crash flown back to Aberdeen for treatment
He suffered serious head injuries when the sightseeing bus he was travelling on collided with overhanging tree branches, killing two people.
Last night, from his home in Aberdeen, Michael Henderson said the family was “overjoyed” to see him wake up, but were now playing a “waiting game” to see how his recovery would progress.
He said: “He’s very, very tired of course.
“We are able to speak to him and ask him questions but he’s only giving one word answers.
“At least he’s still here with us and is able to speak.
“We are just taking each day as it comes.”
The family group had arrived in Malta on Sunday April 8, just one day before tragedy struck.
They had all taken a trip on one of the island’s open top double-decker buses to “see the sights”, but the bus smashed through overhanging tree branches on a tourist route in the Zurrieq area.
A 37-year-old Spanish woman and a 62-year-old man from Belgium died in the crash.
Mr Morrison’s brother-in-law said in the wake of the crash that it was “a miracle Simon was still alive”.
His niece Kelsey Henderson was hailed as his heroine as she jumped to the aid of her uncle and helped keep him upright as blood poured from his mouth.
After emergency treatment, he was placed in an induced coma in Malta. He was transferred back to Aberdeen on Saturday.
Middlefield Wasps started a fundraiser online for the family in the wake of the accident and so far have raised more than half of their £3,000 target.
Anyone who would like to donate can visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/simon-middlefield-wasps.