Victim of hit-and-run ‘breathing and talking’

An Invercargill hit-and-run victim has been described as a ‘‘modern-day Superman’’ after sitting up in his hospital bed and talking to his mother yesterday.

The family of Ryan Phillips, 19, feared for his life after he was struck by a vehicle early Sunday morning and left lying unconscious in the middle of the road. The driver fled the scene, but police are now speaking to a man who has come forward.

Ryan suffered multiple broken bones and suspected brain injuries.

But yesterday, his father Nathan Phillips said his wife had told him he was sitting in a hospital chair and talking to her after earlier being taken out of heavy sedation.

‘‘She said his speech was a wee bit slurred, but she could understand him. She was in tears, it’s amazing, especially considering five days ago we were thinking this could be the end of his life. He must be a modernday Superman. It just blows my mind, his strength is incredible.’’

Doctors seemed happy with his blood pressure and heart rate and ‘‘from all reports’’ his brain was fine, his father, who has briefly returned to Invercargill, said.

He was hopeful his son would make a full recovery, after his many broken bones had healed.

‘‘I don’t know what’s going to stop him. If this hasn’t, what will?’’

Meanwhile, Phillips said he understood his bricklayer son had been at a bar in Invercargill with a couple of work-mates, before walking towards his Otatara home on Sunday morning.

Police had told him there was a 90-minute window where Ryan’s whereabouts were unknown that morning, he said.

Ryan was struck by the vehicle on Marama Ave South at Otatara about 6.15am on Sunday morning, about 2km short of his home.

A police spokesperson said yesterday evening they had no updates on police talks with the man who had presented at the station and was helping with inquiries in relation to

the hit-and-run.