Bellis to return to Britain following crash

Manx Jonathan Bellis

Manx Jonathan Bellis (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

Jonathan Bellis will return home to Britain from Italy, where he is recovering from a scooter crash that occurred near Quarrata, Italy, in September.

"Jonny is doing really well since the last update and is communicating by writing messages on a white board. They are looking into flying him to London shortly," read a statement on the British Cycling website yesterday.

Bellis' parents had been in Italy with their son. They flew from the Isle of Man to join him the day of the crash.

Bellis, 21, crashed while on his scooter near Quarrata, Italy, at around 3:30 in the morning on September 19. Medics took him to the hospital in Careggi, north of Firenze, where doctors placed him in an induced coma and performed surgery. Doctors brought him out of the coma earlier this month, but he is still recovering from head injuries.

Bellis was wearing a helmet and travelling along Via IV Novembre. The cause of the accident is still unknown and local police are still investigating it.

He was in Quarrata to train with other British riders, including fellow Manxman Mark Cavendish. He had hopes of racing the World Championships at the end of September in Mendrisio, Switzerland.

Bellis finished third in the 2007 Under 23 World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. He turned professional with team Saxo Bank this season after a trainee period last fall.

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