A NEWPORT man who was left brain damaged following a devastating rugby accident is in with a chance of representing the city as a 2012 Olympic torchbearer.

David Griffiths, 25, suffered a massive brain clot caused by a knock to the head playing rugby for Pill Harriers Youth in 2002.

He was left with frontal lobe damage, which left him with a reduced use of the ride side of his body, behavioural, memory and concentration problems.

But despite needing 24 hour support, the former Lliswerry High School pupil lives life to the full and is a keen sportsman who enjoys rock climbing and white water rafting.

His family, including sister Jenna, 27, and mum Mandy, 48, think there is no-one more deserving of the honour.

Miss Griffiths said: “It would be a massive achievement for him to carry the flame as he has had such as hard time since the accident and he would be inspired to carry it, to be involved in the Olympics and to do more things in the future.

“When people say to him what have you done in your life he could say, ‘I’ve carried the Olympic torch’, how many people could say that?”

Mr Griffiths is one of the first nominees to be chosen to go forward for chance to carry the torch, which will tour the UK ahead of the London games next summer.

And although he admits to being shocked by the nomination, he said it would be a great achievement if he was successful.

Football fan Mr Griffiths had only been playing rugby a few weeks when he had his accident.

Following treatment at the Royal Gwent Hospital and a lengthy stay at Cardiff’s Rookwood rehabilitation hospital he moved to a series of care homes all over the country before his family were allowed to bring him back home permanently last year.

His mum Mandy Griffiths, 48, said: “He’s improved a lot since the accident. It’s been a battle but now he’s happy and settled and we have got a fabulous care team.”

To nominate yourself or someone else to be a London 2012 Olympic torchbearer, visit lloydstsb.com/carrytheflame. Nominations close on September 12.