KEY POINTS:
Zinzan Brooke's brain is okay. The former All Black is on the mend and is expected to make a full recovery after fracturing his skull during a night out in Spain.
The 42-year-old was moved out of intensive care into a general ward yesterday morning (NZ time). He had undergone surgery on Sunday night to relieve pressure on his brain.
Brooke fractured his skull last week in the town of Elche, south of Valencia, where he was coaching the Barbarians. He fell over and hit his head on concrete after being dropped off at his hotel in a taxi.
His brother Robin told the Herald last night it was a huge relief Zinzan had escaped permanent injury.
"He's a lucky boy. He's definitely on the mend," he said.
Zinzan was moved to the general ward following a brain scan. "From there they unhooked him off a lot of machines and took him back to a normal ward, where he had a meal for the first time in six days and started to talk. He even asked [his pregnant wife] Alison when he could go home."
Robin Brooke wasn't sure what his brother's first meal was. "I think he would be a big fan of Tip-Top icecream but I don't think they have it there."
It wasn't clear how long he would remain in hospital.
"He's still on drugs. He probably thinks he's better than he is."
There were no plans for family members in New Zealand to head over.
"Ali is there and our youngest brother Simon, who is based in London, is over there and a couple of friends. It's just the road to full recovery now."
Alison Brooke's mother, Marjorie Imm, said last night she was much more relieved on hearing the news. "Our thoughts are with everybody, especially the children."
