WHEN Karl Swain takes his first tentative steps as one of the carriers of the Commonwealth baton it will be an occasion his family thought they would never see.

The 22-year-old has battled back from a life-threatening accident which has left him with permanent brain damage and slight paralysis.

But on July 22, Karl will take to the streets around Blackburn with Darwen with a host of others who have been nominated to carry the Jubilee baton.

Containing a message from the Queen, it will be sent out from Buckingham Palace on March 11, Commonwealth Day, and be passed from runner to runner, making its way through parts of the Commonwealth, before commencing the UK leg on June 6.

On July 22, day 47, the baton will pass through Blackburn with Darwen before it heads towards Manchester for the opening ceremony of the games. Dad Leslie, of Kipling Place, Great Harwood, said: "It will be the biggest and best day of my life. I will be so proud of him, the whole family will be."

When Karl was nine, he fell 30ft through the roof of an empty factory in his then-hometown of Hull. A full-scale emergency operation was launched when Karl fractured his skull, collar bone and cheek bone. The accident left Karl in a coma for 21 days and actor David Jason made a tape of the voice of his favourite cartoon character Danger Mouse and Del Boy.

They later met on the set of Only Fools And Horses after Karl recovered.

Three years ago, he was transferred to Kemple View Psychiatric Hospital, in Old Langho and, exhausted from the travelling, Leslie and Mum Rita, with sons Danny, Mark and Tony, moved to Great Harwood to be near him.

Leslie said: " When Karl went to Kemple View we made the decision to move to Lancashire and I now get to see Karl two or three times a week. His rehabilitation has come on tremendously. We are hoping this year he will come home. It will be the first time in six years."

Karl was with brother Tony at the time of the accident and it was his younger brother Danny, 21, who nominated him for the July event.