This is the heart-warming moment a 16-year-old boy woke from a four month coma to give his father a hug and speak his first words since being hit by a van as he cycled to work.
Ryan Smith was left with severe injuries after he was involved in the horror collision on July 22 and was not wearing a helmet because he did not want to mess up his HAIR.
The teen has remained in hospital ever since the accident near the seaside village of Chapel St Leonards, Lincs.
Dad Mark, 44, released heartbreaking pictures at the time of the collision of him cradling his brain-damaged son as he lay in a coma.
He has spent every day by Ryan’s bedfor the last four months after being told his son might not survive.
Ryan’s plight even touched Match of the Day pundit John Hartson who travelled to Pilgrim Hospital in Boston, Lincs., from London to offer his support.
But on Friday his family were overjoyed as Ryan opened his eyes and uttered the words “Hello, Mum and Dad”.
And sister Rachael, 21, captured the touching moment Ryan was able to put his arms around his delighted father to give him the “best hug he’d ever had.”
Yesterday paramedic Mark described the incredible moment Ryan woke from his coma to embrace him for the first time in months.
He said: “It was an unbelievable moment – which is so hard to put into words.
“To go from being told he might not survive to holding him in my arms was just a moment I will cherish forever.
“It was the best hug I’d ever had, it felt incredible.
“I asked him to say hello and he took a deep breath and said hello back.
“After jumping around for ten minutes I composed myself and thought I’d push my luck and ask him to say dad, and he did.
“Then mum asked for a mum and he went and said mum.
“I have not felt so happy for so long – Ryan is a miracle.
“It was amazing, he has movement on his right side now too, his right arm, his right leg, his vision is good, his hearing if fine but there is a long way to go.
“He is showing true grit and determination and is very brave.”
Ryan will now undergo six months of rehabilitation at The Children’s Trust unit in Tadworth, Surrey.
Dad Mark, mum Julie, 46, and sisters Rachael and five-year-old Charlie May are hoping that within that time Ryan will be able to walk out of the hospital.
The family are now campaigning for a law to force cyclists to wear helmets after Ryan didn’t wear one because of his quiff hair-do.
Mark added: “Next for Ryan is rehab and hopefully after that we can bring him home.
“We are all hoping that when he does finally come home he will be walking, but as I said there is a long way to go for Ryan yet.
“I just want everyone to know that they should be lit up when riding a bike, especially during these winter months as it is getting darker.
“I can make my four-year-old wear a helmet but it is harder to tell an image conscious teenager what to do.
“This needs to go to Parliament straight away but people have no excuse not to go and buy a helmet.”
Cycle helmets are not compulsory in Britain.
Olympic champion and Tour de France winner Sir Bradley Wiggins has also backed calls for legislation to force cyclists to wear them on roads.
