26 Jun 2015

Jerry Collins' baby daughter makes progress

10:11 am on 26 June 2015

The baby daughter of former All Black Jerry Collins has woken from a coma after brain surgery for injuries suffered in the crash that killed her father and mother.

The 34-year-old former All Black and his partner Alana Madill were killed in a car crash in France on 5 June.

Their daughter Ayla, just three months old, was the sole survivor of the crash and was seriously injured.

French RCN (racing club de Narbonne) supporters hold a picture of All Black's Jerry Collins and his partner.

Supporters of Collins' French rugby club carry a photo of the couple and Ayla on a march in tribute. Photo: AFP

The baby girl had been in an induced coma after lengthy surgery for head injuries at Montpellier's University Hospital.

A member of the Collins and Madill families said Ayla since come out of the coma and was being monitored by the medical team.

"She can breathe on her own, so she has made huge progress since her operation," the family member said.

Ms Madill was driving and Jerry Collins was in the back of the car which had come to an unexplained stop when a bus ploughed into it on a motorway near Beziers.

Collins was farewelled last week at a public memorial service attended by 4000 people, including past and current All Blacks.

He had been playing for French second division side Narbonne at the time of his death.

A giant No.6 jersey in honour of Collins will be carried around Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Saturday ahead of the Hurricanes v Brumbies Super Rugby semi-final.

- AFP / AAP