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THE family of an 18-year-old who almost died in a dirt bike accident in March is calling on the community to help them find the nurse who they say helped saved his life.
Nathan O'Brien was seriously injured after sustaining critical head and chest injuries when he came off his bike during a practice ride at motocross event in Ravenswood on March 29.
His mum Trudy O'Brien, who was there on the day, said there was a nurse who appeared quickly on scene and performed lifesaving first aid on Nathan.
"She was just a spectator who ran up and said 'I'm a nurse' and knew what to do," she said.
"They just thought he just had broken bones but I think she knew what was going on.
"We don't know who she is. She made sure he wasn't going to go to sleep, kept him still."
After the ambulances arrived, Nathan was rushed to Bendigo Health in a serious condition before being flown to The Alfred hospital in Melbourne when his condition deteriorated.
He was placed into an induced coma and remained on death's door for about a week, his family says.
Much to the relief of Nathan's family and doctors at both hospitals, Nathan's condition took a positive turn about two weeks in, which they say is nothing short of a miracle.
Last Friday, he was transferred back to Bendigo where he has been undergoing basic physio rehabilitation at the Anne Caudle centre.
His family have been told Nathan could be home as early as Tuesday next week.
With the worst of the experience now behind them, Nathan's family is now trying to get a hold of the nurse who first came to his aid in order to thank her.
Trudy believes one of the riders at the track that day must have been the nurse's child and that the nurse must have been from out of town.
"She was a lifesaver. I did thank her on the day but I just don't remember her name," she said.
Do you who the nurse is? Contact the Bendigo Advertiser and help us put them in touch with the family.
