Dad of two left fighting for his life after falling down stairs while out with friends

A DAD is fighting for his life after falling down stairs while on a night out with friends - with his family now hoping to see his "sparkling eyes" again.

Chris Kelsall fractured his skull, falling into a coma after the night out turned to tragedy at the Reflex nightclub in Stoke city.

The 39-year-old needed immediate, emergency neurosurgery with the father-of-two now facing a long road to recovery.

In a crowd-funding campaign, Chris has been described as a "truly amazing, happy, funny, loving guy" whose life revolved around his friends and family.

Friends said that they could not wait to see his "sparkling eyes" to open.

In an update posted on Monday, a family friend said Chris had managed to wake up, but was still yet to be able to talk.

The friend wrote: "He's made massive strides in the last few days.

"Think he's heard our prayers and is fighting this like we knew he would. Still a long way to go but these first few steps have been encouraging and filled us all with hope".

The dad, from the Adderley Green area of Stoke-on-Trent, is now able to breathe for himself after the fall,

Paramedics rushed to the scene when Chris slipped at fell about 12.30am on Saturday, October 22.