Joshua Ditchmen, 17, of Wishart, in hospital after stroke and ATV crash

A talented 17-year-old South East Queensland footballer and apprentice sparky is fighting for his life after a stroke and four wheeler crash left him with multiple bleeds on his brain.

Joshua Ditchmen, 17, of Wishart. Picture – Facebook/Joshua Ditchmen.

A talented 17-year-old football player and sparky in training is fighting for his life in a Brisbane hospital after suffereing brain bleeds when he crashed a quad bike after having a stroke.

Joshua Ditchmen, 17, of Wishart, has woken from a coma at the Princess Alexandra Hospital after the double horror on October 1.

Police confirmed they responded to reports of an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) crash on a private property on Kavanaghs Road, in Buaraba (Somerset region) around 12.45pm.

Then Joshua was flown to the Princess Alexandra Hospital in a critical condition, where he remains.

The Forensic Crash Unit is still investigating.

Joshua Ditchmen, 17, of Wishart. Picture – Facebook/Sonja Ditchmen

His mother Sonja Ditchmen asked for prayers for Joshua’s recovery.

“Please pray for my son Joshua,” she said online.

“Josh suffered a stroke…and as a result he fell off a quad bike and received another head injury.

“He was flown to the PA Hospital and is receiving the very best care.

“Please pray for him ... he’s a good boy and doesn’t deserve this.

“Come on Josh….you got this.”

His mother confirmed he had several bleeds on his brain and had been put into an induced coma which helped him breathe, however he developed a chest infection.

“Can he make a full recovery? What damage has been done? How long? Only time will tell. He is 17, he has lots of time,” she said.

“The good thing is that Josh has no swelling of the brain and no pressure building up at this stage.

“Joshua has a big and long fight but my boy has it in him, he is tough and he has the best people looking after him and he has lots of support. Joshua will work hard I know at whatever he needs to do to rehabilitate.

“Joshua is a fighter, my gut instinct tells me he will recover fully. I’m not religious usually but let’s keep praying and hoping for miracles.”

Joshua Ditchmen, 17, of Wishart. Picture – Facebook/Sonja Ditchmen.

In the 10 days since the crash it is understood he has made significant improvements.

According to his mother, Joshua has opened his eyes, can say his name, will respond with a thumbs up, and has mostly come off of his breathing tube.

“One week and one day since our world changed but he is doing so much better and faster than anyone expected … tough kid this one,” she said today, October 9.

“A lot more lucid but still very sleepy.

“He pulled his feeding tube out over night but they left it out and has been tested to eat and drink on his own. He’s asking for Berocca and Powerade.

“Before we arrived this morning they had physio get him out of bed with assisted walking. “We didn’t see it but they were happy with what he could do first time out of bed.”

Joshua Ditchmen, 17, of Wishart. Picture – Facebook/Sonja Ditchmen.

Mrs Ditchmen said today’s progress, had proven to her that her son was on the road to recovery.

“Today is a really, really good day. You can’t wipe the smile off my face,” she said.

“We are feeling the love from everyone. Thank you so much for messages, prayers and well wishes.

“Still early days but they originally thought he would be in ICU for a month or more. So this kid is kicking it.”

Carina Junior Rugby League Football Club — where Joshua plays and referees has thrown its support behind the family, launching an appeal for donations which can be made via the club.

“Joshua is a member of our U17 Nev Blair team and has played all 12 of his junior years as a Tiger, a member of our Carina Referee Cluster, a member of the Brisbane Referee Assocation, and also a member of the Qld Junior High Performance Referee Unit.

“His twin brother also plays for Carina, and his older brother has also played for many years. “His parents are heavily involved with our club and Sonja one of our Life Members.”

Joshua’s aunt, Arianne Krenske, also created a GoFundMe page to help the family.

“We know Josh is strong and a fighter and as of October 5 he had the breathing tubes removed,” she said.

Joshua Ditchmen, 17, of Wishart. Picture – Facebook/Sonja Ditchmen.

“He is currently still in ICU and has still a long road ahead of him with his family by his side at all times.

“My brother Michael and sister in law Sonja have been so thankful to all of their family, friends and community for there well wishes and support, I am fundraising now to help cover some costs involved with helping them to continue to help with Joshua’s recovery while they are having time off work to be there for there son.”

You can help the family here.