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A teenage motocross rider has returned to competition racing just six months after an accident left him in a coma with a traumatic brain injury.
Archie Freegard was critically injured in a crash with another rider during a competition in his home city of Karratha, in northern Western Australia, in October 2023.
The 17-year-old was flown to Royal Perth Hospital, where it was revealed he had multiple bleeds on the brain and minor swelling.
The teen spent more than a month in the intensive care unit, and 60 days in hospital undergoing rehabilitation, including physiotherapy and speech pathology.
Getting back on the bike
Freegard said it was his desire to return to racing that helped him through the rehabilitation.
"As soon as I got back home, I was going to gym twice a day," he said.
"As soon I got cleared the very next day I went for a ride and I was like, 'we're getting there and hopefully, slowly we'll get back to where I was'."
Dennis Freegard said his son Archie was determined to return to the sport.
"Even the last little bit of time in Perth in hospital I know Arch was really looking forward to getting back on the bike, and it was really up to my wife and I to rein him back in a little bit until he was well enough to get on a bike."
"He's worked really, really hard to get his fitness and motor skills back," he said.
"I know every time he swings a leg on a bike, he's just in his own little space and he loves it."
The teenager, who was the runner-up North West champion last year, made his return to competition racing in Broome at the weekend.
Speaking to the ABC before the race, Freegard said he was itching to get back into it.
"I'm ready to rumble," he said.
"Practice wasn't great, but I'm just ready to go now.
"I just want to get racing again."
Long-term passion
Following his return, Freegard has his sights set on becoming the North West champion.
"I'm still loving it and I'm going to keep on it for as long as I can," he said.
Friend and fellow rider Tyla Stevens has been racing with Freegard for years, and witnessed the October crash.
He said it was good to see his mate return to the sport he loves.
"Bloody oath it's good to see him back — there's nothing better than having that friendly face [out there] again."
Dad Dennis Freegard admitted he was a bit nervous watching his son get back on the bike, but said everything possible is done to protect those racing.
"You might make comparisons to different sports, whether it be footy or rugby, or swimming, there's risk in everything," Mr Freegard said.
Mr Freegard's daughter Ruby also races competitively.
"To mitigate that risk we train our children, and we put them in the correct safety equipment and they don't go out on the track as novices," he said.