Rising racing star Mitchell Rigney defying the odds after tragic accident

A rising SA speedway star is defying the odds after a serious racing crash in the Northern Territory put him in a coma - with his father revealing what happened.

Wingless sprint driver Mitchell Rigney was racing at Darwin’s Northline Speedway on August 18 tragedy struck and left him with a substantial head injury.

A rising South Australian speedway star is defying the odds on his long road to recovery after a serious accident in the Northern Territory left the teenage racing prodigy in a coma.

Wingless sprint driver Mitchell Rigney, 18, was racing at Darwin’s Northline Speedway on August 18 when during a race, tragedy struck.

Mitchell’s father, Marcus Rigney told The Advertiser a collision between two race car wheels during an race essentially catapulted Mitchell into the fence, causing a substantial head injury.

“His helmet did hit the roll cage … but if you stop at a considerable amount of force it almost scrambles the brain, it shakes it like a milkshake,” Mr Rigney said.

“It created hundreds of tiny little brain bleeds all through Mitchell’s brain.”

South Australian wingless sprint car driver Mitchell Rigney sustained serious head injuries while racing in Darwin and was placed into an induced coma. Picture: Facebook.

Speedway racer Mitchell Rigney was in a massive accident in his wingless sprint car that left him with a fairly substantial head injury. Picture: Facebook.

Mitchell was rushed to the Darwin Hospital intensive care unit where he was placed into an induced coma.

Mr Rigney said the family were told to prepare for some bleak and sombre outcomes and face the fact Mitchell might never leave hospital or have a fully functional life.

However, his family never gave up hope and paid tribute to Mitchell’s fighting spirit as he continues to make a remarkable recovery.

Mitchell returned to Adelaide on August 29 on a care flight with the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

He was placed in the Royal Adelaide Hospital’s ICU before and was showing signs of improvement including showing family his “cheeky smile”.

He was then moved from the RAH to the Repat Centre in Daw Park as he began to wake and talk.

Last week, his family celebrated a significant milestone in his recovery with a video of Mitchell supported to walk during a physio session.

Mr Rigney said the racing star’s comeback would be greater than this setback.

“Often we have thought about the unfairness; Mitchell was so excited to head to Darwin on an amazing holiday, and tragedy struck doing something that he loved,” he said.

“I have felt that way myself, and (I have) mentioned how much the world needed Mitchell, his care and loving nature, intelligence and strength.

“I prayed while he was in an induced coma, that he would come back to us – and he did.

“After he woke, I prayed that he would remember us and he would have memories – and he did.”

Mr Mitchell said his prayers had been answered and Mitchell’s strength had shone through.

“So now I pray for Mitchell’s full recovery and I feel confident in his fight to recover and get back on his feet.”

Mitchell’s mother Sherri Rigney said positive thoughts had helped the family through the toughest of times.

“We kept our thoughts positive as we sat beside him and every day he got better and stronger,” she said.

Northline Speedway and the Northern Territory Wingless Sprint Association set up a GoFundMe while Mitchell was in the Royal Darwin Hospital in the ICU.

The call to support the family with care flight costs, accommodation and other expenses raised over $25,000.