BRAVE Rhys Peacey will return to the scene of the hit-and-run accident that almost claimed his life.
Rhys's family was warned to expect the worst when he was hit by a car in Chamonix, in the French Alps, in February.
The 22-year-old former Cowes High School student, of Horseshoe Close, Northwood, had travelled to the resort to work as a taxi driver and enjoy the snowboarding season but ended up in a coma in a French hospital, fighting for his life.
Rhys had suffered a severe brain injury and his parents, Suzanne and Adam, were warned he may not wake up.
Since then, however, he has made a recovery Suzanne has described as 'miraculous'.
Following rehabilitation treatment at St Mary's Hospital, Rhys has moved to Abbotswood Court, Romsey, a residential rehabilitation unit, where he has made huge strides in regaining his speech and movement.
His sister, Alice Peacey, 26, of School Lane, Carisbrooke, said: "Where it's a dedicated unit, it's working really well for him. He's hard at work all day, then he asks the doctors for more exercises to do. They've told him to slow down.
"He's doing fantastically well. You can have a conversation with him now and his movement is improving.
"It's the right side of his body he struggles with but he has almost full movement back in his right leg now. He can walk and move around. It's remarkable.
"Rhys has always been a determined person. I really hoped this wouldn't stop him from doing what he wanted to with his life and, if anything, it's pushed him even harder."
Rhys wants to return to Chamonix, where the police investigation into the hit and run continues, to come to terms with what happened.
Alice said: "I think it's incredibly brave. I wouldn't want to go somewhere so painful and tragic. But it will give him a sense of peace and closure to go back to where his life was almost taken.
"He can stand there and say, 'I survived'."
Rhys is trying to raise £2,000 to pay for the trip. Donations can be made at www.gofundme.com/rhys-go-back-to-chamonix-france