Hampshire left-arm spinner Charlie Van der Gucht is fighting for his life today, six days after being run over by a taxi in London.

Van der Gucht, 21, initially suffered two badly broken legs - but his condition is now serious after suffering two blood clots on his lungs.

There was no intensive care bed available at the West Middlesex University Hospital, Isleworth, where he was being treated and so was transferred to St Thomas' Hospital, South London.

Van der Gucht's family flew back from their holiday in the USA to be by his bedside but, according to Hampshire physio Dave Newman, the deterioration in his condition started on Monday when he suffered a fat embolism on the fracture site leading to his lungs.

Newman said he was then rushed into surgery for a six-and-a-half hour skin graft operation on both his broken legs but, as a result, Van der Gucht suffered two blood clots on his lungs on Tuesday and he spent the next 24 hours stabilising.

Newman reported a more comfortable day yesterday as Van der Gucht began to breathe by himself again, but said: "Charlie is still in intensive care and has a long way to go before he's out of the woods."

Van der Gucht had originally been penned in for this week's squad for Hampshire's CricInfo County Championship Division 2 clash against Gloucestershire.

But then came the news that Van der Gucht, who plays his club cricket with Liphook & Ripsley in the Southern Electric ECB League Division 1, had been involved in the accident on Twickenham Bridge, London, last Friday after an evening out with friends.

Newman added: "It will need a long rehabilitation progress for Charlie, but he is a young determined boy."

Hampshire director of cricket Tim Tremlett said: "Everybody at the club was shocked and saddened to hear of Charlie's terrible accident.

"Charlie is a very popular member of the playing staff and we all appreciate that it is going to be a long and often painful process before he is on his feet again.

"I am confident that Charlie's strength of character and the encouragement and support that he will receive from family and friends will be invaluable at this difficult time."

Hampshire coach Jimmy Cook added: "As far as Charlie's career is concerned, this is a big blow and couldn't have happened at a worse time.

"We were intending to take two spinners to Cheltenham this week to give us an extra option and Charlie was going to be in the squad after some good performances in the second team.

"He is seen as first-team potential."