A YOUNG man who needed life-saving surgery after falling from a balcony is on the road to recovery.

James Coltherd-Walls, an electrician, was visiting Cyprus with friends when he slipped and fell, suffering serious head injuries.

The 23-year-old’s mother Julie said it was a “horrific” experience and she feared he was “not going to wake up”.

But James, from Woodingdean, Brighton, pulled through and, though he remained in a coma his condition stabilised.

With the help of a charity and an online fundraiser which made more than £24,400, his family were able to transport him back to the UK in September.

For the past few months he was in the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton and he worked with speech and language therapists as well as a physiotherapist.

His mother said he has now been transferred to the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability in Putney to continue his recovery.

He will be there for at leats three months, and Julie said she could already see improvements in her son's condition.

In order to support jis continued recovery, James' grandfather Roy Coltherd has decided to take a festive approach to fundraising.

He will be donning a red suit and beard as he transforms himself into Santa Claus for the holiday season.

He said he "would like to help him in his recovery by delivering or handing out Christmas presents at people's homes or parties, in return for suggested donations of £20 or £30".

Anyone who is interested in helping Roy's fundraising efforts can contact him on 07719 659123.