Friends of a cyclist who is fighting for his life after being knocked down during a police chase are in a race against time to reunite him with his family overseas.

Zakeri Hussain, 28, was hit by a BMW which had failed to stop for police shortly after 1am on Saturday (May 12) in Forest Road, Walthamstow.

The pizza chef who is originally from Afghanistan became a father for the first time last month – but has yet to meet his son.

Doctors have given Mr Hussain, who suffered injuries to his head and spine and remains in a coma, a 10 per cent chance of living.

Now his friends and colleagues are on an “urgent” mission to raise £6,000 to bring his wife and baby to his bedside in the hope of helping him wake up from his coma.

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Fundraiser Kansiga Sharifullah’s husband works with Mr Hussain, who lives in the Wood Street area of Walthamstow.

“If bringing his wife and child to his bedside means he could wake up then we have to do it”, said the 22-year-old.

“When my father was in a coma he could hear me talking.

“He loves his wife to bits and he was so excited when she was expecting and he found out it was a boy.

“The baby has never seen his father’s face and if anything worse is to happen it would mean they could see him one last time but we are still praying and holding out hope that he will pull through.”

Mr Hussain, who has lived in the UK for more than 10 years, travelled to Iran last year to get married before returning to London, leaving his wife behind.

The father-of-one had recently been told by his solicitor that his wife and son would likely be granted visas to the UK – which friends say made him feel “over the moon”.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

His colleagues at Pizza GoGo in Tottenham’s Lordship Lane have already raised £1,000 for the campaign are keeping a bedside vigil.

Mrs Sharifullah said: “I have a 10-month-old and when he was born Hussain sent gifts and well wishes.

“He is such an innocent and genuine person and he doesn’t deserve this. I don’t know why this bad thing has happened to such a good person.

“We all make unnecessary expenditures and this small thing – even donating just a few pounds – could mean so much and even save his life.

“It is an urgent appeal and we are trying to get them here before the end of the week.”

Fundraisers plan on contacting mosques in the run up to Ramadan, which starts on Wednesday (May 16), to see if they will donate cash to the campaign.

The driver of the BMW fled the scene and police are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation and the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) has been informed.

To donate to the campaign click here.