Flemington trainer Mathew Ellerton on recovery trail after suffering a stroke in Bali

Leah Ellerton said the likes of top jockeys Ben Melham and Jamie Kah were “amazing” support after her trainer husband Mathew Ellerton was struck down by a stroke in Bali last month.

Doctors say Flemington trainer Mathew Ellerton will make a full recovery from a stroke suffered in Bali last month. Picture: AAP

Leah Ellerton marvelled at how quickly racing people rushed to her aid when a stroke struck down her husband, Flemington trainer Mathew Ellerton, in Bali last month.

A stomach upset developed into a life-threatening situation for Ellerton at the popular holiday destination but Mrs Ellerton said fellow racing folk quickly swamped her and the couple’s son Jacob with assistance despite being thousands of kilometres from home.

A GoFundMe page was soon set up to help Ellerton’s family raise funds for the trainer’s medical treatment in Indonesia and a medical flight back to Melbourne to begin his recovery.

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Ellerton had travel insurance, which will reimburse some of the costs in time, but Mrs Ellerton had to immediately organise funds to get the Group 1-winning trainer home.

“The response has been amazing,” she said.

“Even in Bali, Jamie Kah and Ben Melham were there and they were terrific.

“Melissa Kennewell (wife of trainer Lloyd Kennewell) was there and she helped do the GoFundMe page and Cara Kavanagh (wife of trainer Levi Kavanagh) was there as well.

“They were just wonderful to Jacob and I, I couldn’t thank them enough.

“I’ll be forever grateful for what everyone has done for us.”

Fellow trainers Chris Waller, Adrian Bott, Neville Parnham, Tom Dabernig and David Hall were among those that donated to the fundraising effort, which has raised more than $90,000.

Mrs Ellerton said doctors initially feared the trainer had a second blood clot on his brain but further tests eased those concerns.

Trainer Mathew Ellerton was flown home from Bali after undergoing emergency surgery. Picture: AAP

“They thought another clot was there but it was only a bleed on the tissue that was there when they took the other clot out so it didn’t end up being as bad as we thought,” she said.

“They said he doesn’t need any more surgeries and he’s just there to recover.”

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Mrs Ellerton said her husband was in great hands while in intensive care in the Bali hospital but his transfer to a general ward proved difficult for the popular horseman.

“The ICU was really good and the neurologist, he was amazing and the procedure they had to do went really well,” she said.

“It was just when he got back to the normal ward, it was pretty much on your own, there wasn’t much help there.

“We had to get him out of that hospital over there because he was going crazy.

“The conditions over there were tough for him and he just wanted to get out of there.”

Ellerton’s stable has kept running despite the trainer’s battle, preparing a double at the Ballarat Synthetic meeting on June 28.

Mrs Ellerton said the staff had done an outstanding job of keeping things ticking over, easing the couple’s worries over the last fortnight.

She's Xtravagant formed part of a winning double for ailing trainer Mathew Ellerton at Ballarat last month. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

“The whole team has stepped up and been amazing, especially one of the staff, Gemma,” she said.

“The riders have been terrific and they all know what to do because they have been with him for such a long time and they’re great at their jobs.”

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Doctors have told Ellerton he could expect to make full recovery from the stroke but would remain in hospital until it was safe for him to head home.

Leah said her husband of almost three years had already improved significantly in the days since his return to Melbourne.

“He’s just had weakness in his left arm but they’ve been doing physio and it’s already on the improve,” she said.

“He’s been asking for his racing calendar but that’s a good sign and stuff.

“His texting is now perfect, I couldn’t understand it last week, so he’s doing very well.”

Ellerton’s beloved North Melbourne footy club getting off the bottom of the AFL ladder with a win last Saturday would also lift his spirits.

“He knew the Roos won, don’t worry about that,” Leah said.

Originally published as Flemington trainer Mathew Ellerton on recovery trail after suffering a stroke in Bali