A young man who was catastrophically brain damaged after being knocked down by a van is set to receive £4.8 million agreed High Court damages.

Peter Hines was on the esplanade at Bognor Regis, West Sussex, with a group of old school friends, when the accident happened in September 2000.

He was thrown 30 feet in the air and landed on his head, and was in a coma for three months.

Mr Hines, 23, is now confined to a wheelchair and cannot fully communicate, although he recognises his family.

His father, Trevor, a 54-year-old property director, said after yesterday's hearing in London that he, his wife Barbara and other son Simon, 25, had forgiven the van driver, James McGahey.

"He will have to live with the full knowledge of the damage that he has caused to a family for the rest of his life."

Mr Hines, of Steep, near Petersfield, Hampshire, said Peter would never be the same boy. "He was an outgoing fun-loving young man who was always the centre of the party with a love of sport, the outdoors and people."

The family's counsel, Alan Smith, had told Mr Justice Holland that McGahey was driving his employer's van in his own time and was therefore not insured, but his employer's insurers were required to pay the damages.

The settlement was reached on the basis of 87.5 per cent liability in Mr Hines' favour. He is undergoing rehabilitation at Queen Elizabeth's Foundation Brain Injury Centre at Banstead, Surrey, but hopes to return soon to his parent's home and then live independently with carers.

The award, which includes a contingency fund of £1.25 million and an annual tax free sum of £90,000, is valued at about £4.8 million.

Trevor Hines said that the family would still have to find another £1 million to cover the costs of care. Thanking his legal team, he said: "Peter will require a care regime and specialist accommodation for the rest of his life.

"My duty as his father was to ensure that I obtained the very best specialist advice to assist him."

Approving the settlement, the judge said: "I do hope this is the start of a new chapter in Peter's life."