Melbourne man Ilija Marinovic wakes from coma after almost three years
Back from the dead ... Ilija Marinovic and his wife Margaret look at photos of events which occurred while he was in a coma
"I am better," Ilija Marinovic told his wife, Margaret.
Mrs Marinovic said: "I didn't believe it because all the doctors said it would never happen."
While Mr Marinovic has been "away", his daughter has celebrated her 18th birthday, his son has had a second child, his sister has died and the whole world has changed, the Sunday Herald Sun reports.
The 57-year-old was unaware his only son, Dinko, flew from Croatia twice to see him - once expecting to collect his body.
"Family is very important to us and Ilija has missed his second grandson's birth in May 2007, my nephew's wedding in January last year and seeing his youngest daughter go to university," Mrs Marinovic said.
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Her husband fell and hit his head on October 26, 2006, and had part of his skull removed to relieve pressure on the brain.
Doctors told the Preston family that when he was taken off life support in November 2006, he would die.
He didn't. The family was then told Mr Marinovic was in a vegetative state and would never recover.
"Every day for almost three years I have come to visit him at the Amity nursing home in South Morang and he has just laid there," Mrs Marinovic said.
"A few weeks ago I was washing his face and, as I always do, I asked him how he was and he said, 'I'm better'.
"I couldn't believe it."
Mr Marinovic was assessed by a specialist on Friday. Rehabilitation will be arranged.
His lawyer Lee Flanagan, of Thomas Arnold and Becker, was amazed by Mr Marinovic's progress.
'I've never heard of anything like it before," he said.
"It was a magic moment for Margaret when he spoke.
"He lost the simple pleasure of enjoying life."
Mr Flanagan could not comment on legal action against Ambulance Victoria, the Emergency Services Telecommunication Authority and the State Government because the case was going to mediation.
Mr Marinovic allegedly waited for 13 hours for help because of a mix up.
- Family told man would die without waking
- Fell and hit his head in October 2006
- Taken off life support in November 2006
"I am better," Ilija Marinovic told his wife, Margaret.
Mrs Marinovic said: "I didn't believe it because all the doctors said it would never happen."
While Mr Marinovic has been "away", his daughter has celebrated her 18th birthday, his son has had a second child, his sister has died and the whole world has changed, the Sunday Herald Sun reports.
The 57-year-old was unaware his only son, Dinko, flew from Croatia twice to see him - once expecting to collect his body.
"Family is very important to us and Ilija has missed his second grandson's birth in May 2007, my nephew's wedding in January last year and seeing his youngest daughter go to university," Mrs Marinovic said.
Related Coverage
Her husband fell and hit his head on October 26, 2006, and had part of his skull removed to relieve pressure on the brain.
Doctors told the Preston family that when he was taken off life support in November 2006, he would die.
He didn't. The family was then told Mr Marinovic was in a vegetative state and would never recover.
"Every day for almost three years I have come to visit him at the Amity nursing home in South Morang and he has just laid there," Mrs Marinovic said.
"A few weeks ago I was washing his face and, as I always do, I asked him how he was and he said, 'I'm better'.
"I couldn't believe it."
Mr Marinovic was assessed by a specialist on Friday. Rehabilitation will be arranged.
His lawyer Lee Flanagan, of Thomas Arnold and Becker, was amazed by Mr Marinovic's progress.
'I've never heard of anything like it before," he said.
"It was a magic moment for Margaret when he spoke.
"He lost the simple pleasure of enjoying life."
Mr Flanagan could not comment on legal action against Ambulance Victoria, the Emergency Services Telecommunication Authority and the State Government because the case was going to mediation.
Mr Marinovic allegedly waited for 13 hours for help because of a mix up.