Bali scooter crash: Geelong mum wakes from a coma after horror accident

A Victorian mum who was involved in a horror scooter crash while on a family holiday in Bali has had a miraculous moment while in the ICU.

A Victorian mum who was involved in a horror scooter crash while on a family holiday in Bali has woken up from a coma in Melbourne.

Nurse and mum-of-two Peta Richards was holidaying on the popular island with her husband Matt and their two young boys Sonny, 4, and Alfie, 3.

But a decision made by Ms Richards to pop out and get her son “one more birthday present” ended in tragedy in what has been described as a “worst case scenario” while being “in the wrong place at the wrong time”.

Peta Richards was involved in a horror crash in Bali.

Ms Richards, an experienced motorbike rider with an international licence, ventured out for the seven-minute trip when tragedy struck – the 36-year-old was taken out by another rider.

As a result, she suffered severe head injuries including bleeding on the brain, a fractured skull and extensive brain swelling.

But now, beating the odds after being transported back to her home state of Victoria from Bali, Ms Richards has finally woken up.

“She has been transferred from ICU to a ward. She is currently awake and making small steps day by day,” Ms Richards’ friend Rachel Berben said on the GoFundMe page created to assist with medical expenses.

Peta Richards was on a holiday with her young family in Bali.

The nurse was allegedly hit by another scooter rider.

“She will require some further surgeries in the coming weeks. From here she will then progress on to intensive rehabilitation to begin her journey forward,” Ms Berben said.

“Please keep her in your prayers and thoughts.”

In an interview with news.com.au, Ms Berben described her friend as the “most caring, kind, selfless person” imaginable who would, despite working long days treating Covid-19 patients, drop care packages off for loved ones who caught the virus during the pandemic.

Ms Berben’s GoFundMe page, which has raised more than $140,000 for ongoing costs associated with Ms Richards’ recovery, said every cent counts.

“We don’t know what life looks like in the next six months or a year or even beyond that,” Ms Berben said.

A GoFundMe for Peta Richards has raised more than $140,000 to help with her recovery.

“Over the coming days, weeks and months, Matt will need to not only take care of Peta, attend hospital appointments, cater, and accommodate to any changing needs while also looking after his boys.

“We are hoping this money can go towards anything the family needs in the immediate future and go towards medical expenses to provide Peta with the best possible rehabilitation care to progress her recovery.”

Originally published as Bali scooter crash: Geelong mum wakes from a coma after horror accident