A teenager who has been in a coma since before the coronavirus pandemic began has finally woken up.
Joseph Flavill, known as Joe, is awake and speaking to his loved ones after suffering a severe brain injury in a horror car accident.
The 19-year-old was studying for his A-levels at The de Ferrers Academy in Burton, Staffordshire, when he was involved in an accident on March 1 last year.
As the crash left him in a coma for almost 11 months, he has no idea about the events unfolding for millions across the country and the world.
Joe has spent much of the 11 months at Leicester General Hospital, however, four months ago he was moved to Adderley Green, which provides neurological, physical and cognitive rehabilitation, in Stoke.
His family say Joe has even caught coronavirus twice, once while he was still in a coma and once since waking up.
His aunt Sally Flavill-Smith told Staffordshire Live : "At first his eyes were open but he wasn't responding to anything, but over the last few weeks he's taken amazing steps.
"He's really trying to engage and blinks and smiles. He's raising his limbs on instruction.
"He's making really good progress. We've got to try to remain positive.
"He's definitely making improvement."
During his time at Leicester General Hospital, only Joe's mum, Sharon Priestley, could visit due to Covid restrictions.
Sharon was allowed to spend time with him at the home he moved to towards the end of last year on his 19th birthday, but had to stay socially distanced.
His family are able to communicate with him through Facetime and his aunt said that his face lights up when he sees his friends and family on the screen.
"It's the best we have seen him recently," she said. "It might seem like little progress but the fact he can give the nurse a high five is a really big step.
"It's unbelievably hard for his mum not being able to see him.
"We also don't know how much he understands as his accident was before the first lockdown and it's almost like he has slept through the whole pandemic.
"It's hard as we know he is more alert, but how do you explain the pandemic to someone who has been in a coma?
"A brain injury is very much the unknown, so we haven't been given an idea of what to expect really."
His aunt has now said they want him to start on his physiotherapy again, which he was doing well at, but had to stop due to covid.
Joe had wanted to take a year out after completing his A-levels to go travelling, so now his friends and family are doing something special for him.
Around 100 people are cycling, walking, running and rowing to travel the equivalent of an around-the-world trip at home.
Videos are also shared on the Joe's Journey Facebook page so the teenager can follow what his friends have been doing.
The family have set up a fund-raising page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/tjrcvc-josephs-journey, to help cover costs of any treatment he may need in the future.
They also have a dedicated website at https://www.josephsjourney.co.uk/ and a Joseph's Journey Facebook page, where more information is available for those who want to help complete the round-the-world trip, as well as videos of those who are taking part.
