Perth boy Joshua Schuetz wakes up after severe quad bike accident in Bali

In Bali, Indonesia, an eight-year-old boy named Joshua Schuetz from Perth was critically injured in a quad bike accident while on holiday with his family. Last Wednesday, the incident occurred when Joshua was a passenger on a quad bike driven by his brother; the vehicle flipped, pinning him to the ground. As a result, he suffered severe injuries including a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain. Emergency neurosurgery was performed on him shortly after the accident, and he was later airlifted to Perth, where he was placed in an induced coma. Fortunately, just three days after being transferred to Perth Children's Hospital, Joshua demonstrated significant medical progress by breathing on his own. His recovery continued to improve, and he was eventually woken from the induced coma and removed from the ventilator. A family friend, Bernice 'BJ' Ariasa, reported that Joshua is now able to communicate using hand signals, such as giving a thumbs-up, although he still struggles to speak due to the trauma from the medical devices that were used during his treatment. Despite these challenges, Joshua's cognitive abilities seem intact; he has expressed curiosity about what happened during the accident and has shown recognition of his family members who visited. In particular, he remembered his relative Linc’s visit in Bali, which was a reassuring sign of his recovery and awareness. The Cockburn Wolves Futsal club, where Joshua plays, has been supportive throughout this ordeal, initiating a #staystrongjoshy campaign to raise awareness and support for him and his family. They paid tribute to Joshua during matches, emphasizing the community's solidarity and concern for his well-being. Though Joshua faces a long road to recovery, his family and friends remain hopeful, as the talented athlete looks forward to returning to the Futsal pitch when he is ready. The incident as a whole highlights the importance of community support in the face of life-threatening emergencies.