A WORLD handball star from Co Armagh has awoken from a coma, two weeks after being struck by a car.
Conall McCavitt (21) had remained in an induced coma since the crash in Crossmaglen on St Stephen's Day. The one-wall handball specialist from Cullyhanna was struck by a car at Cardinal O'Fiaich Square at around 6.20am.
Mr McCavitt, a member of the Eugene Quinn club in Armagh city, was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
On Monday, his family released a statement through GAA Handball, the governing body for handball in Ireland, in which they said he was "still in a critical condition battling for his life".
They added: "He has made a few small steps in the right direction, but remains in an induced coma at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. We would like to thanks the people all over Ireland and abroad for their heartfelt prayers."
But GAA Handball Ireland last night gave a more positive update on his condition.
In a statement, the organisation said: "It's pleasing to report Conall McCavitt is now out of his coma and has spoken to his parents. He remains in intensive care with huge injuries".
Messages of support have flooded in for the Ulster University student, who has been described as one of the "brightest young stars" of the sport and a "very popular figure in the handball community".
GAA Handball Ireland have said that at just 21-years-of-age, Mr McCavitt has "established himself as one of the top one-wall players our country has ever produced and regularly competes at international events in Europe and the US".
A 20-year-old man was questioned on suspicion of motoring offences and released on police bail pending further enquiries.
