KEY POINTS:
A website giving progress on the condition of shot English student Matthew Purchase has been set up on the social networking site Facebook.
Mr Purchase, a 21-year-old agricultural exchange student from Dorset, was shot in the back of the head at close range by a .22 calibre rifle while hunting with six others on a farm at Waotu, 10km southwest of Putaruru, on December 8.
Today the Waikato Times reported his parents had noticed signs of improvement in his condition.
Ian and Helen Purchase rushed to New Zealand to be at their son's bedside in Waikato Hospital. He has since been moved from the high dependency ward to the neurological ward.
Mr Purchase's brother Simon has written on the website of small signs of improvement, but also urged caution.
"My parents have noticed some slight movement in his (Mr Purchase's) left foot when they tickled it, this may be just another reflex, but when we tried tickling his left foot in the past there was nothing, with a bit of luck this is the early signs of him moving his left side, but it could also be nothing," the message read.
Mr Purchase's sister wrote that he was doing pretty well in his own room.
"He's been really responsive at times and smiles and laughs along to old stories and jokes etc. He seems to remember the stories as well which is a good sign as we weren't sure how good his memory would be."
Mr Purchase had been placed on a "tilt table" to help his body, heart rate and blood pressure get used to him standing up again, and was expected to be on antibiotics for the next three months.
Surgeons operated on Mr Purchase four days after the shooting, removing two bullet fragments from his brain.
Waikato Hospital neurosurgeon Dr Venkataraman Balarishnan said he removed the bullet pieces along with bone fragments during a successful 2-1/2 hour operation.
However, his parents had earlier said they accepted he would never be the same person who left England.
A 48-year-old Danish tourist last month appeared in Tokoroa District Court, charged with careless use of a firearm causing injury, in relation to the shooting.
He was remanded on bail and was expected to reappear in court next month.
- NZPA
