Gap year student left in coma and can't remember her name after Goa scooter crash

"They said she was in a coma, and put me through to the ITU [intensive care] ward. Olivia had been in a coma and treated there for 36 hours," he added.

"She was starting to regain consciousness before falling back into a coma again. She had a bleed on her brain measuring 3.6mm - that was the scary bit.

"They told me if that didn't dissolve, they'd have to drill into her skull, and they'd make that call in two days."

Nic and Olivia's sister Beatrice, 19, flew out to India on the earliest possible flight, but were unsure about what state they would find her in.

Luckily, medication had reduced the bleed, and there was no need for brain surgery.

"When we got there on the Saturday, four days after, she didn't know her own name," her dad said.

"But she recognised us, and we had a very tearful cuddle for a very long time."

Olivia had massive bruising and MRI scans uncovered a serious injury to the left temporal lobe - the part of the brain responsible for storing memories, as well as her cerebellum, which controls orientation and balance.

While she recognised Nic and Beatrice, she thought her brother Sam was her uncle, and had no recollection of her beloved dog Raj, who died just before Christmas.

"She couldn't remember where she grew up, near Cardigan, where she went to school, teachers, it was heartbreaking," Nic said.

"It will likely come back. The last week or so, it has started coming back. On her side is she is young, and incredibly tough."

While Olivia was not fit to be discharged, Nic described people being brought in with limbs hanging off, who he believed were in greater need of the intensive care beds.

"The hospital absolutely saved her life, it was in the balance initially," he said, adding that he would "always be grateful".

Nic's only knowledge of Olivia's condition was through using Google searches.

He checked her into a Goa hotel, from where she has been receiving treatment and medication from a private medical facility.

On the second night after being discharged, Olivia collapsed because of dehydration and was rushed back to hospital.

But week on week she has been improving, from having little memory of her past life, and being unable to do simple things she once took for granted, such as using a mobile phone.

"The journey will be the equivalent to running a marathon - getting out of bed and into an armchair is so tiring," Nic said.

"She has no memory of any of what happened, just the last few days she's started remembering what happened yesterday."

However, this is quite normal for brain injuries, according to Olivia's neurologist.

At first, doctors were worried cabin pressure could cause a blood vessel to burst, but have now given Olivia clearance to fly home.

Nic is looking forward to her being back in her own bedroom, where he hopes familiarity and care in the Welsh NHS will further speed her recovery.

While Olivia had travel insurance, the fact she was no wearing a helmet when the crash happened means she has been unable to claim.

The cost of private healthcare and getting her home is around £20,000, but friends and family have rallied around and so far raised almost £12,000.

Olivia is recalling more and more aspects of her life in the UK - although some of her dad's questions are proving more difficult than others.

"Memories are starting to come back," Nic said.

"I asked 'who is the prime minister?'

"She looked at me blankly and said 'I probably wouldn't have known that before the accident'."