Rugby league player Jake Finn has woken from an induced coma and is talking to family and friends, five days after being found unconscious at a friend’s house.
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The 25-year-old Central Newcastle prop was listed in a critical condition on Tuesday in John Hunter Hospital but has since staged a remarkable recovery.
“He’s improved out of sight from 48 hours ago,” close friend Brad Murray told the Newcastle Herald.
“He’s been taken off ventilation and moved out of intensive care down into general, basically just recovering now.”
Doctors tried unsuccessfully to bring Finn, 25, out of the coma on Monday. He had surgery last weekend to control compartment syndrome and had undergone MRI scans to assess any brain damage.
“Considering he was in a coma 48 hours ago, it’s amazing,” Murray said. “Everything’s really positive. He’s obviously got a long road. It’s not even a week since he was admitted and now he’s doing this.
“The family are really positive, as we all are. He’s talking, still a bit dazed, but he’s aware that we’re there. He’s come along in leaps and bounds. It’s huge.
“He’s out of the induced coma and he’s on his way to recovery.”
Finn’s mother, Kim, posted an emotional message on Facebook on Wednesday thanking friends and family for their support.
“Words can't express how all of you are helping my family, from Jake’s mates that have not left his side, to my family that have been there all the way with me . . . the prayers, the wishes, phone calls, texts from the bottom of my heart thank you,” she wrote.
In a later post, she wrote: “I just wanted to let you all know that we have our boy back! It is going to be a long recovery for him, but I'm sure with the love and support he is receiving he will get through it!”
The Newcastle Rugby League has postponed Saturday’s game between Central and Macquarie until June 10.
“This decision was agreed to by both clubs with the support of Newcastle RL and was done so in the best interest of Jake’s teammates,” the league said.
Macquarie coach Adam Bettridge said his club had not hesitated when asked to defer the game.
“Jake’s situation is a life situation. We’re just playing a game of football for a bit of fun on the weekend, so we didn’t have to put much thought into it when Central mentioned it,” he said. “We’d like to think, if we were in the same situation, the same would happen to us.
“We just want Jake’s mates to have the best chance to be around him at a tough time, and we think that by delaying the game of football that’ll allow that.
“I think the last thing they want to do at the moment is play a game of football.
“Our club just hopes Jake makes a full recovery and we’ve wished him all the best from us.”
Finn is a former Australian Schoolboys representative and Knights and Bulldogs NSW Cup player and one of the stars of the Newcastle competition.
