Bellis shows signs of improvement

Manx cyclist Jonny Bellis is showing signs of improvement after slowly emerging from an induced coma following a crash on his motor scooter in Italy.

Bellis is receiving treatment at Florence’s CTO Hospital following the accident in the early hours of Saturday, 19 September.

The 21-year-old is the nephew of the Isle of Man’s cycling coach Mike Doyle.

Doyle said: “Jonny is slowly coming out of his induced coma and is breathing without the aid of a ventilator.”

He continued: “The doctors are doing a fantastic job but it is going to take time – they want Jonny to recover his senses gradually.”

The 21-year-old suffered a fractured skull and bruising to his brain when he crashed his scooter near the town of Quarrata in Tuscany.

The Manx cyclist represented Great Britain in last year’s Olympic Games in Beijing.

"It's just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up."