Smeaton awake after asthma coma

Mr Smeaton was in a coma for two weeks after suffering an asthma attack

One of the men credited with foiling last year's terrorist attack on Glasgow Airport has awoken from a coma, his father has confirmed.

John Smeaton, 32, has been in the Royal Alexandra hospital, in his home town of Paisley, since suffering a serious asthma attack two weeks ago.

He opened his eyes on Wednesday and was able to recognise his family and fiancee, Christy MacPhedran.

His father Iain Smeaton said the family were delighted by his progress.

"We are really happy that he has come through but he is still not out of the woods yet and has a long way to go," he said.

"He can't communicate verbally but he can communicate by blinking his eyelids and looking at us and there's just a normal progression.

'Sheer hell'

"He does recognise us and he does understand what is going on.

"The last two weeks have been sheer hell and I wouldn't wish anybody to have to go through that."

Bilal Abdulla, 29, and Mohammed Asha, 28, went on trial at Woolwich Crown Court, south-east London, two weeks ago accused of attempting to murder hundreds of people with car bombs in London and Glasgow.

They deny all the charges against them.

Mr Smeaton is in the hospital where Mr Abdulla was working as a junior house officer in general surgery at the time of the airport attack.