THE family of a former rugby league player who was found with “life-changing” injuries have launched a campaign to raise money to buy a specialist vehicle to aid his recovery.

Scott Bessant, 34, was found in the early hours of the morning on Sunday, August 13 last year, on Pentwyn Lane, Abersychan.

The Bessant family said that their brother received the following injuries during the incident: multiple fractures to his skull, a fractured neck, 12 fractures to his back, a fractured pelvis, a bleed on the brain, a broken collarbone and broken ribs and damage to the diaphragm.

The ex-Welsh Dragonheart had been in a coma until February 2018.

Brother-in-law Neil Chere, who lives in Pontypool, said Mr Bessant’s condition has improved recently.

“We still do not know what and who he can recognise,” he said.

“He cannot speak nor feed himself at this time.

“But he has come on a long way since being in a coma all those months ago.”

But he added: “I have to stress that there is still a very long way for Scott to go.”

In a bid to hopefully improve Mr Bessant’s rehabilitation, the family have now launched a campaign to raise money to fund a specialist vehicle for him.

“Scott’s children do visit him and the day outs he has are restricted to being near Rookwood Hospital because of the need to use a specialist vehicle,” said the 48-year-old brother-in-law.

“The sad part is we cannot get him into any of the family’s vehicles because he is six foot four.

“We want to be able to take him out more. And the only way we can do this is by getting a specialist car that can accommodate him. The specialist car would allow us to wheel Scott into it from the back. This is why we are hoping to raise money.”

Mr Chere added: “If Scott sees new surroundings it could help him more.

“I believe his rehabilitation will be helped if Scott can get out more and see people.

“The car will cost a few thousand pounds so we will be organising fundraising events soon.”

Mr Bessants’ family members previously said that they felt that they have been let down by the police during the investigation into the incident.

There is no new information about the incident.

If you would like to make a donation or require additional information, then you can e-mail Mr Chere on neil.chere@outlook.com