Ex-Gills goalkeeper George Howard, has arrived back in Britain and told his followers on Twitter it feels good to be home.

George, pictured here, was left fighting for his life after a crash in South Africa last month.

The 20-year-old, from Rainham, was in a coma for three weeks after being involved in a car accident while on holiday with former team mates.

Last weekend, his family and friends in the UK got the news that had all been waiting for – that George had woken up.

And doctors told him he was well enough to fly home.

Shortly after 8am on Saturday he tweeted his followers a simple message saying how he felt. He wrote: “So good to be home.”

It is expected he will have to say in hospital here for a period of time.

While he was in a coma, an online fundraising page had collected almost £14,000, to help his family stay with him while he was in hospital out there and to help with his rehabilitation.

One of the donation came from George’s former school, The Howard in Rainham, which held a cake sale and raised £170. It followed an earlier donation by the school of £250.

Head teacher Paul Morris said: “George is a smashing lad and a terrific footballer. We are quite proud of him and what he has achieved. Everyone here at the school is hoping he will make a full recovery.”

George joined Gillingham FC at the start of the 2013/14 season as backup to number one goalkeeper Stuart Nelson.

He left the club at the end of the season but still joined his former team mates for the Ride with Gills charity cycle in May.

The appeal had attracted support from former England international Kenny Sansom and former national newspaper editor and TV personality Piers Morgan.