Nicholas Jakovcevic expected to make ‘full recovery’ after horror fall

A young Australian tourist feared to have serious head injuries has shocked medical staff just days after being rushed to intensive care.

The young Australian man who was feared to have a brain injury after a freak fall in Croatia has stunned doctors with a rapid recovery.

Nicholas Jakovcevic, 20, was being treated in intensive care at KBC Split hospital after he plunged several metres from a fence.

The Sydneysider was holidaying on the Croatian island of Brac when he was seriously injured.

A hospital source has revealed Mr Jakovcevic “has surprised doctors with fast recovery”.

“He is undertaking some additional checks but we expect he will leave hospital in next few days”, the source said.

Nicholas Jakovcevic, 20, from Sydney, is expected to make a full recovery.

Mr Jakovcevic was transported by helicopter from Brac to Split after the fence fall in the village of Donji Humac where he had been taking part in traditional St. Ana festivities.

He suffered head injuries and brain concussion and doctors initially feared for his life but is now expected to make a full recovery.

It’s thought he didn’t require an operation but stayed under medical observation for additional checks.

His Sydney-based parents have joined him in Croatia. One of his parents is from the island of Brac, where the incident took place, and he received a lot of support from islanders after the fall.

Locals described him as a “nice Aussie guy who arrived to the land of his predecessors”.

There had been fears Mr Jakovcevic had a serious head injury.

Brac has become a favourite European holiday spot.

Brac’s population is about 13,000 with just a few hundred living in Donji Humac.

“It seems the fence got broken and he felt down and got his head injured,” an islander who attended Saint Ana’s festivities confirmed.

“It was near the island’s most famous traditional food restaurant Kopacina in Donji Humac.”

The annual feast of Saint Ana includes a large celebration near the village’s hilltop church and includes the blessing of motor vehicles.

Local food, live music and traditional Croatian celebration are also a part of the festivities which take place across July 26 each year.

Croatian police launched an investigation into the incident.

Brac is located just a 50-minute ferry ride from mainland Split which hosts countless Australian tourists each year

On the other side of Brac is party island Hvar which is known for its pristine beaches and plentiful night-life spots, which are popular with young tourists.

DFAT staff provided consular assistance to Mr Jakovcevic after his fall.