The parents of Marco Stefan Petrovski, the Melaka United goalkeeper who was struck down by lightning while training last week, say that their son is making "rapid progress."
Petrovski, 18, remains in a coma in Malacca General Hospital, south of Kuala Lumpur, after the freak incident last Tuesday as he finished practice with the club's President's Cup squad.
On Wednesday, his father Marco Petrovski and mother Marie Theresa Lupang flew into Malaysia to be by his bedside.
In a statement, they said that Stefan had suffered a Hypoxic-Ischemia injury, caused by lack of oxygen to the brain during a cardiac arrest.
"Although not severe, at this stage we won't know how much damage has been done," the parents said in their statement.
"We are glad to say that he is making rapid progress and showed a lot of fighting spirit. The future for Stefan is still unclear though we expect long rehabilitative period."
More details about Stefan's accident were revealed in the statement. He was hit around 5pm on Tuesday as he stood next to the goal posts on the Melaka United training pitch.
"Tragically being a goalkeeper, Stefan was positioned nearest to the upright and received a strong electrical current which knocked him unconscious," the statement said.
"To say that we are devastated is an understatement. The pain is unbearable but we have to be strong as we continue to search for the best treatment for him."
Australian-born Petrovski signed a three-year contract with Melaka United in January. The former Sydney Olympic junior qualifies as a Malaysian player because of his mother Marie, who comes from the Borneo island state of Sabah.
Aksi Spaso mengangkat jersi tanda soladiriti kepada Stefan Petrovski selepas menjaringkan gol. #PrayForStefan pic.twitter.com/t0P26uDhzx
- Malaysia FAM Cup (@FAM_Cup) April 9, 2016
Petrovski's recovery is being closely watched by Malaysia's football fraternity, with the hashtag #PrayforStefan trending on social media.
Players and officials paid their respects before the Melaka United versus Kuantan game in the Malaysia Premier League on Friday night, with huge banners unfurled before kickoff. Melaka players held Petrovski's number 25 shirt aloft, earning warm applause from the fans at Hang Jebat Stadium.
"We have been overwhelmed by all the support received from both within Malaysia and the rest of the world," the statement continued.
"To all Stefan's friends and family who have been there for us, we thank you with all our heart."