A BRAIN injury victim is set to meet with the idol who helped to bring him out of

a life-threatening coma more than 14 years ago.

When actor David Jason, heard that nine-year-old Karl Swain had sustained severe head injuries after falling through a factory roof in 1989, he agreed to record a cassette to be played to the unconscious youngster.

The fall had left Karl with a fractured skull and collarbone and put him in a coma for 25 days.

Karl's dad Les, 51, of Kipling Place, Great Harwood, said: "Karl has always been a massive David Jason fan, with both the cartoon Dangermouse and Only Fools and Horses being his favourite shows.

"The doctors told us to keep speaking to Karl, as they told us that when you are in a coma the last thing to go is hearing.

"We had the idea of approaching David Jason, who was Karl's favourite actor, and he agreed to produce a tape where he spoke to Karl on one side as Del Boy and on the other as Dangermouse.

"To this day we are certain that it was these tapes that encouraged Karl to wake up. We are just thankful to David for giving us the chance to meet him and thank him properly."

Both Karl, 25, and his dad have been invited to spend the day on set with David, as he records his latest series of police drama A Touch of Frost, in Leeds.

And in a letter to Karl, David's wife Gill says the star is looking forward to meeting Karl to see how much progress he has made.

Karl said: "I am more aware now than ever about what he did for me and I know that these tapes did help to bring me out of the coma.

"I just want to say thank you to David and tell him just how much I appreciate what he did for me.

"It will be great to meet him now as an adult and thank him personally.

"I have always loved David Jason and after what he did am a bigger fan than ever."