A FORMER taxi driver who was left fighting for his life following a double brain haemorrhage has walked again for the first time in more than three years.

Craig Yates was paralysed from the chest down after a car crash in Hall Street, Blackburn.

His devastated family plan to take legal action against East Lancashire Health Authority because they claim not enough was done when he was originally taken to hospital.

Now the 30-year-old has taken his first steps after 18 months of determined effort at his home in Carr Road, Darwen.

Craig's dad James said: "Craig spent a very long time in hospital but I was determined to get him out of his chair and walking again when he came home.

"He can still only take a few steps but its still a real achievement and he is delighted."

Health bosses launched an urgent inquiry into the case in 1995 when Craig, then 26, was taken unconscious to Blackburn Royal Infirmary on November 21.

The family, who are convinced the accident was caused by a brain haemorrhage, claim he was told to take headache tablets to ease the pain when he was sent home two days later without being given a brain scan. His second haemorrhage happened when they returned to hospital demanding more treatment because his condition deteriorated.

He underwent seven-and- a-half hours of brain surgery and spent time on a life support machine.

After the top-level review officials from Blackburn and District NHS Trust admitted that, with hindsight, they may have been able to prevent the second haemorrhage if they had known the extent of Craig's injuries.

However they accepted no responsibility for his condition, concluding that medical staff had acted professionally in the light of information available to them.

Mr Yates added: "Craig's personality has completely changed. He has no short term memory and although you can hold a perfectly intelligent conversation with him he never remembers simple things like what day it is.

"I have taken him all over the country for assessments and we are still waiting for a date for the hearing.

"None of the specialists hold out much hope that his memory will ever come back but at least he is now back on his feet."

The family are still pursuing the claim against the health authority and are waiting for a hearing date.

Craig's mother Ethel, of Gordon Street, Darwen, added: "The way I look at it he may never be the same lad but he is lucky to be living at all. It is great that he's got his balance back."

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