A MAN fighting for his life after a medical trial went disastrously wrong might be in a coma for up to a year, it was said today.

A relative of Ryan Wilson, one of two critically ill men in intensive care in a north London hospital, told of the grim prognosis as the condition of four other patients appeared to improve.

Mr Wilson's sister-in- law, Jo Brown, said: "The only sign of life Ryan has shown in three days is when his brother William kissed him and a tear rolled down his cheek.

"We're being told that Ryan might be in this coma for six to 12 months. He can't even breathe on his own."

The doctor in charge of treating the six men at Northwick Park Hospital says he has no idea what triggered the reaction that left them seriously ill with inflammation.

Meanwhile, one of the two volunteers who escaped unscathed told of the others dropping `like dominoes'.

Raste Khan, 23, who was given a placebo, told of the horror as the drugs began to have their effect on the other patients.

He said: "They began tearing their shirts off, complaining of fever.

"Then some screamed out that their heads felt like they were going to explode."