A WOMAN who has been left with "colossal" injuries after being hit by a bike in Nailsea has come out of her coma.

Andrea Greening was involved in a collision with a bike on Bucklands Lane on October 25. She was rushed to Southmead Hospital, where she remained in a coma for a month.

Andrea's family, including sons Chris, Dave and partner Mark, have given the North Somerset Times an update on her condition: "Andrea has partially recovered since the accident but has a long uncertain journey ahead.

"Her injuries were colossal: she had damage to the frontal lobe and hypothalamus, required two separate surgeries to reduce swelling and bleeding, and was in a coma at Southmead ICU for a month.

"Most people do not survive these injuries and there were several periods after the accident where we feared we would have to say goodbye.

"Incredibly, though, she is now out of a coma and is improving week-by-week after having recently moved to a rehabilitation ward at BRI. However, she is currently extensively disabled in terms of both brain and body function. Nobody knows at this stage what the final prognosis is, but she is receiving all the care she needs."

Andrea's family wish to thank the wider North Somerset community for their support.

Andrea's loved ones believe that the "terrible infrastructure" of the path is to blame. They said: "The shared pedestrian and bike path on Bucklands Batch is a death trap waiting to happen for pedestrians and cyclists alike.

"Prior to its construction, our neighbours on Bucklands Lane made submissions to the council that this shared path would put people at risk, which were overlooked. The design of the shared path did nothing to protect people from potential collisions, especially at the blind, downhill Bucklands Batch / Lane intersection where the accident happened.

North Somerset Times: Foliage covers much of the path.Foliage covers much of the path. (Image: Chris Greening)

"The signage is not just hard to see, but also contradictory, such that most cyclists would be unaware it should only be used as an uphill path."

A North Somerset Council spokesperson said: "We take any collision on the highway very seriously and have investigated this incident.

"We are confident that this is an adequate shared path, but a review of the site by our Road Safety Team has identified some further road enhancements.

"This includes bringing forward some vegetation management, signage renewal and a ‘refresh’ of road markings to remind cyclists of the direction they are meant to travel.

"Once the works are complete, we will arrange for video monitoring of the location to establish whether cyclists are adhering to the signage and if not to consider whether further intervention action is required."