An Aussie boy who was left fighting 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 a brain hemorrhage just days before he was to participate in a tournament on the Indonesian island.
Joshua underwent emergency neurosurgery before being brought home in an induced coma last Friday.
He was taken to Perth Children’s Hospital where he remains in intensive care, despite a family friend providing a positive update on Tuesday.
“He is in the hospital, still in a coma but breathing on his own and this in itself is a huge milestone,” Bernice “BJ” Ariasa posted on the GoFundMe page set up to help the family.
‘Thank you for all your efforts so far. Please keep sharing and keep going.”
Despite an outpouring of support from across Australia, she has also received “horrendous, absolutely disgusting, insulting emails” about the family’s travel insurance.
Joshua ‘Joshy’ Schuetz, 8, (pictured) suffered a skull fracture and brain haemorrhage in Bali when the quad bike he was riding in overturned and trapped him
The promising Futsal star (photo) has now started breathing on his own, but is still in a coma
“The family had top cover for all six travelers with unlimited hospital cover, but like all of us, they didn’t read the fine print and assumed they had all-inclusive cover abroad,” Ms Ariasa explained.
‘The insurance does not cover the medical costs because this happened on a quad bike.’
The GoFundMe has raised $123,000 so far to help cover Joshua’s mounting medical costs.
Ms Ariasa previously revealed that Joshua’s family were forced to spend $20,000 before doctors in Bali would treat him.
“He was then transferred to another hospital with a neurosurgeon and an ICU unit, where they had to pay a further $10,000 AUD deposit for a blood transfusion,” Ms Ariasa said at the time.
“So far the bill is $60,000 AUD but it is increasing by the hour.”
Joshua (photo) is not out of the woods yet and is still in critical condition
Joshua (photo) had been to Bali for an indoor football tournament
Joshua was on holiday in Bali with his family ahead of a Futsal tournament he was due to take part in last weekend with some of his Cockburn Wolves teammates.
The club has since rallied behind its ‘beloved little champion’ by launching a #staystrongjoshy campaign online.
Teams paid tribute to Joshua during last weekend’s games.
“The Wolves are an inclusive club and we call on all our members, regardless of faith background, to pray for healing and hold space in your hearts for Joshy Schuetz and his family,” the club wrote.