Joshua ‘Joshy’ Schuetz: Boy brought from Bali to Perth on mercy flight after horror quad bike crash in Ubud

A mercy flight bringing critically injured Joshua Schuetz home from Bali landed on Friday night, as loved ones prayed for his recovery from a harrowing quad bike crash. The eight-year-old, who was in an induced coma, was whisked to Perth Children’s Hospital. Joshua had been holidaying in Ubud with his parents and three siblings when disaster struck on Wednesday. He was reportedly a pillion passenger on a quad, driven by his teenage brother, when it left a narrow path and flipped into an adjacent rice field. He was thrown into a body of water and pinned underneath the quad. Joshua suffered a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain. He underwent emergency surgery to save his life. More than $91,000 has been raised so far from generous members of the public to support his care, which includes a $20,000 hospital bill. The family’s insurance paid for his mercy flight home, but not his hospital stays and subsequent care. His mother and siblings had flown ahead to meet the flight at Perth Airport. Family friend Bernice Ariasa said there was cause for hope after Balinese doctors said it was likely Joshua would make a full recovery. “As far as the surgery goes, it was the best possible outcome,” Ms Ariasa told 7NEWS. “It will be a very long road to recovery. We don’t know about his speech, his motor skills — there are a lot of unknowns.” Ms Ariasa said she understood that Joshua’s head hit the quad’s handlebar, shattering his skull, during the crash. “The whole thing has been overwhelming and extremely traumatic,” she said. “Even though it’s so horrific, it’s a relief that positive things are coming out of it ... That he might have a full recovery is the most incredible news.” The eight-year-old had been scheduled to play in a soccer tournament on Saturday with Perth-based team, the Cockburn Wolves. Ms Ariasa said his teammates still in Bali were meeting each other on Friday in a display of “strength”. both his teammates and younger siblings were struggling to comprehend the situation due to their age. “We want our old Joshy back as soon as possible,” she said. “He’s a real little treasure”. Joshua’s elder brother – who was set to coach the team through Saturday’s tournament - has been was praised for his quick thinking in pulling him young sibling from underneath the quad bike after the crash. Ms Ariasa said he likely saved Joshua’s life. before a “harrowing” trip to the hospital, after thinking the young boy had died. After being rushed to two different hospitals and undergoing emergency brain surgery, the young boy has remained in an induced coma. Byford Venom Futsal Club has confirmed they will host a Futsal tournament on December 21 in an effort to raise funds for Joshy’s family. Ms Ariasa said she would love for Josh to be able to see his teammates again. “We would really like it if Joshy could be there – that would be amazing just for him to know,” she said. “At the moment, he has no clue what we are doing, but if he can see that we are there to support his recovery that would be just amazing.” More than $86,000 has been raised to help fund hospital bills for the Schuetz family after he suffered injuries including a “fractured skull” and a “brain bleed”. “Hundreds of prayers are over our sweet, funny, full of life Joshy. We just want him safe and healed,” the fundraiser said. Mr Ariasa said the fundraising support from the community had been “amazing”. “I am blown away from the generosity and the support — the football and the futsal world have just been incredible.” You can contribute to the fundraiser here.