An Australian boy who had to fight for his life after a horrific accident in Bali can now breathe on his own.
Joshua ‘Joshy’ Schuetz, 8, from Perth, was a passenger on a quad bike driven by his brother when the vehicle overturned and pinned him to the ground in Ubud last Wednesday.
The talented futsal player suffered a skull fracture and brain hemorrhage several days before competing in a tournament on the Indonesian island.
Joshua underwent emergency neurosurgery before being flown home in an induced coma last Friday.
He was transferred to Perth Children’s Hospital, where he remains in intensive care, despite a positive update from a family friend on Tuesday.
“He is in the hospital, still in a coma, but he is breathing independently and this is a huge milestone in itself,” Bernice ‘BJ’ Ariasa posted on the GoFundMe Page created to help the family.
‘Thank you for all your efforts so far. Please keep sharing and continue this.”
Despite an outpouring of support from across Australia, she also received “horrendous, absolutely disgusting and abusive emails” about the family’s travel insurance.
Joshua ‘Joshy’ Schuetz, 8 (pictured), suffered a fractured skull and brain bleed in Bali when the quad bike he was riding overturned and trapped him.
The promising futsal star (pictured) has already started breathing independently, but remains in a coma.
“The family had premium cover for the six travelers with unlimited hospital cover, but like all of us, they didn’t read the fine print and assumed they were covered abroad with everything included,” Mrs Ariasa explained.
“Insurance wouldn’t cover medical expenses because it happened on a quad.”
So far, GoFundMe has raised $123,000 to help cover Joshua’s mounting medical costs.
Ms Ariasa previously revealed that Joshua’s family was forced to shell out $20,000 before doctors in Bali could treat him.
“He was then transferred to another hospital with a neurosurgeon and an intensive care unit, where they had to pay an additional deposit of A$10,000 for a blood transfusion,” Ms Ariasa said at the time.
“So far the bill is 60,000 Australian dollars, but it is increasing by the hour.”
Joshua (pictured) is not out of the woods yet and remains in critical condition
Joshua (pictured) had been in Bali for a futsal tournament.
Joshua was on holiday in Bali with his family ahead of a futsal tournament he was due to compete in last weekend with some of his Cockburn Wolves teammates.
The club has since rallied behind their ‘beloved little champion’ by launching a #staystrongjoshy online campaign.
The teams paid tribute to Joshua during last weekend’s games.
“The Wolves are an inclusive club and we call on all our members from any religious background to pray for healing and hold space in your hearts for Joshy Schuetz and his family,” the club posted.