One week after the kite crash, Lewis Crathern is out of coma

The 31-year-old kiteboarder suffered a huge wipeout during the Red Bull King of the Air, in Cape Town, South Africa. Crathern free fell nearly 20 meters (65 feet) and crashed into the water.

His heat opponents immediately rushed for help, and the British Big Air specialist was soon after transported to the hospital. Doctors found a lot of water in his lungs, so they made the decision to put him in coma.

“Overwhelmed by all the positivity in my crash at KOTA. For those interested, I went for the first double mega loop… Late flip! I’ll get it one day. Thanks for all your kind messages. They really keep me going!” wrote Lewis Crathern.

The kitesurfer from Worthing, England, is expected to make a full recovery in the upcoming weeks. Lewis has already started walking with the help of family, friends, and hospital staff.

An induced coma, also known as barbiturate coma, is a temporary and reversible state of coma brought on by a controlled dose of drugs to protect the brain after an injury.