Ex-rugby player is awake following months in coma
APOPULAR former rugby league player found with lifechanging injuries almost a year ago is awake.
Ex-Wales Dragonhearts full-back Scott Bessant was found seriously hurt near a bridge in the early hours of Sunday, August 13, last year aged 34.
Mr Bessant was placed in critical care and remained in a coma for several months.
His family said Mr Bessant suffered multiple fractures to his skull, a fractured neck, broken ribs on his entire right side, a fractured pelvis, and they also said since then he has had multiple strokes.
Now 35, Mr Bessant is awake and his condition has “improved”.
Mr Bessant’s brother-in-law Neil Chere, 48, said: “We are in a position now where we want to be able to take him out of the hospital. At the moment he is just restricted to the hospital grounds.
“We’re hoping different surroundings and places that he knows might help with his recovery. Scott was in a total coma but he’s now awake.
“He still can’t walk and talk, and he may not be able to recognise us, but it is an improvement.”
Mr Chere said doctors are now working with Mr Bessant to see if he is able to communicate.
Doctors have been showing Mr Bessant images and video, and even throwing a balloon at him, to see if he reacts to any stimuli. Mr Chere said: “There is a buzzer he can press if he does, but we have not seen much response with that.”
Mr Bessant, from Talywain, Pontypool, was drinking in the Little Crown pub on the night before he was found by a passer-by near a bridge in Pentwyn Lane in Abersychan. According to those with him he was in a “happy, joyful mood” and left after the pub closed.
Mr Chere said: “We think he walked up the old line [a disused railway line], but we’re not sure.
“That was on his way home. It could take you about an hour to get to where he was. From the time he left the pub until 5am in the morning we don’t know where he was.
“All we know is that at 5am a member of the public who was going to work found him.”
Mr Chere said Mr Bessant came out of his coma around three months ago and his eyes were now open.
Mr Chere said: “Obviously when it first happened it was very overhwhelming. As a family it helped bring us all together, but it’s still a massive road we need to go down.”
In 2009 amateur player Mr Bessant was invited to train with Super League side Celtic Crusaders and had hoped to turn professional.
But dad-of-two Mr Bessant was unable to attend training after contracting salmonella.
Mr Chere said: “He’s a doting dad. The most loving, caring person you could know. He’s a gentle giant..
“And whatever happened nobody deserves what he’s going through.”
Mr Chere added: “Scott was a very loved person. He was 100% a popular guy.”
A crowdfunder has now been created to help Mr Bessant’s family buy a specialist vehicle to help him visit home and familiar places.
Gwent Police were asked to provide an update on the case but had not responded at the time of publication.