Teacher seriously hurt in car crash is on the mend

A TEACHER who suffered serious head injuries after being struck by a speeding car while on honeymoon in Italy has finally been moved out of intensive care.

Following the accident on July 9, John Tams was put into an induced coma by doctors as his injuries were so severe.

As well as the head injuries, Mr Tams, 30, also suffered facial injuries and broke his leg, pelvis and ribs.

His wife Nicola, who he married in Edinburgh's Minto Hotel just days before the accident, was also hit by the car.

She sustained four broken ribs and was in hospital for a week.

Care worker Mrs Tams, 31, has been staying in a hotel near her husband's hospital in Naples ever since and has refused to come home without him.

Despite the severity of his injuries, Mr Tams has been making steady progress and, on his wife's first visit to see him after she got out of hospital, he was able to tell her that he loves her.

Mr Tams, a craft and design teacher at Dalkeith High School, has now been moved out of intensive care and is making progress.

His friends had originally hoped he would be able to come home as early as last week, however it is not clear how long he will have to remain in Italy.

One friend and team-mate from Hearts supporters' club Real Maroon said: "John's out of intensive care and is undergoing a few operations to set things right.

"No time scale for coming (home] yet unfortunately, but things are definitely on the up."

Mr Tams' friends from Real Maroon and Duddingston Athletic have launched a fundraising drive to help support him and his wife through his recovery.

They are going to take on a team of Hearts legends on September 5 in a benefit match, which will take place in Bonnyrigg, where the couple live.

Meanwhile, offers of help with fundraising have been flooding in from well-wishers, including someone who has put their signed 1993/94 Hearts away shirt on Ebay to raise cash for the fund.

People attending the Karma nightclub on Lothian Road last weekend also raised 271 for the fund by donating change.

One of Mr Tams' Duddingston Athletic team-mates, Mark Naysmith, paid tribute to his friend's strength on the club's website.

He said: "What JT has been through and the progress he has made sums up his character, determined and never give up attitude, fighting spirit and all round hero.

"I could not be happier to hear he is making progress."