A YOUNG cricketer who collapsed after suffering a brain haemorrhage is beginning to come out of a coma and has been able to recognise his family and nurses.

Hashim Akhtar, aged 18, was playing in a Twenty-20 match for Astley Bridge CC when he collapsed in the toilets of the Sharples Park ground in May.

Now he is beginning to make an improvement, with his mum Mrs Akhtar saying she has been able to communicate as he has regained the ability to write.

She said: "He has not spoke yet, but yesterday I got him to write his name down, and he was able to. We have been asking him questions and he has been able to write down answers.

"It seems like he is generally improving, which is great.

"He has been responding more but he is not fully awake yet. He is not fully out of the coma, and sometimes he goes into a deep sleep, but he is more responsive.

"He has also been able to recognise the doctors and nurses, as well as members of our family which he could previously."

Mrs Akhtar added that Hashim's body has become more responsive, but that is still unable to move his left leg.

She and other members of the family, of Rankine Terrace in Deane, have been keeping a bedside vigil at Salford Royal Hospital, where he has been receiving treatment.

The next steps for the teenager involve moving from his current hospital ward into a rehabilitation ward, where he will receive further treatment in a bid to regain his functions.

It is hoped the move will take place in the next few days, and he is expected to spend a further two months in rehabilitation.

Talented cricketer Hashim was originally put in an induced coma more than a month ago following the incident, and underwent an operation to remove a blood clot from his brain shortly after.

Doctors have since said the incident was caused by Hashim having an abnormal blood vessel in his brain.

It is not thought to be genetic, but Mrs Akhtar says Hashim often suffered from migraines.

She said: "He often had migraines, so we think it is related. But we never knew it was anything like this."

Hashim, a Bolton Sixth Form student, was due to be taking his A-levels this month.

He has played cricket since he was 13, has represented Bolton and was due to be watched by scouts from Lancashire on the weekend he fell ill.

His father, Fawad, was a cricket pro for Bolton, Darcy Lever and Bolton Indians and brother Haaris, aged 14, is a promising cricketer.

There has been an outpouring of support from the cricket community, including well wishes from neighbouring cricket clubs.

Ray Taylor, secretary of Bolton Cricket League, said cricketers had been following Hashim's progress via social media.

He said: "Everybody was optimistic at first, then there was a couple of weeks when we didn't hear anything while he was in a coma and we feared the worst.

"But everybody within the Bolton Cricket League and the wider cricketing community are absolutely delighted to hear of his improvement."