SUPPORTERS are rallying to help the family of a Gwent man seriously injured in a motorbike accident in New Zealand.

The Argus revealed on Saturday how Norman and Jackie Willbourne flew to New Zealand on Thursday, not knowing if their son Noel (pictured) would survive the crash in Auckland.

But the 21-year-old improved slightly over the weekend, his grandfather Charlie Willbourne, of Monmouth, said last night.

Mr Willbourne said: "He is not conscious and is still on a ventilator, but they have been switching it off for short periods and he can breathe by himself. "He is responding to the familiar voices of his parents and is able to communicate through pressures of hand squeezing."

He added that the family was told Noel's back is not broken, as was originally thought. "He has a broken femur, and lacerations and bruises. His crash helmet went through his chin and broke his jaw, and that has been dealt with now.

"Luckily for Noel an off-duty doctor and, coincidentally, an off-duty nurse, were at the scene of the accident and undoubtedly saved Noel's life."

Mr Willbourne, who financed his son and daughter-in-law's flights, said the couple are due to return next Sunday, depending on Noel's condition.

Mr and Mrs Willbourne's best friends, Catherine Williamson and Chris Jones, of Bassaleg, are organising a marathon line-dance at Newport Leisure Centre next week. They began arranging the fundraiser shortly after the Willbournes flew out to New Zealand.

And offers of help have been pouring in after the Argus highlighted their appeal. Mr Jones said: "The important thing now is to set up an account as soon as possible because at the moment I am unable to do anything with people's cheques.

"I'm visiting my sister who manages a branch of the Nationwide Building Society to set up an account and hopefully it will be up and running on Tuesday."

Noel, who had attended Usk Agricultural College before a year-long trip abroad, was working on a dairy farm in New Zealand and was due to return home in March.

It is understood he was injured when a camper van was in collision with his bike. The camper van driver, from Austria, has been charged with "aggravated carelessness causing injury".