However, the family of Ryan Phillips (19) remains confident he will be able to be transferred from Dunedin Hospital to his home town’s hospital soon.
Mr Phillips was struck by a vehicle that did not stop when he was walking home from a work party about 6.15am in Otatara.
He sustained severe injuries including brain trauma, multiple broken bones and a torn kidney and spleen — and at the time doctors told the family he had a 50-50 chance of survival.
However, five days after the accident he was out of the induced coma.
Speaking to the Otago Daily Times yesterday, his father, Nathan, said his son underwent facial surgery on Friday which took about seven hours.
However, Ryan did not recover as well as expected and needed the help of an oxygen machine.
"He is struggling to get oxygen to his lungs by himself again. It is a bit of a backward step, but I am sure he will overcome this one again."
Mr Phillips said the family was talking to doctors about transferring him to Southland Hospital, where he would have surgery on his pelvis and be closer to his family for the recovery.
"Until he is able to breathe on his own again, this probably is not going to happen," Mr Phillips said.
"But we hope he keeps showing progress and getting better and better.
He said his son was still a bit confused because of the pain medication he was on, but did not seem to remember the accident.
They were taking slow steps and not talking about it, so as not to not cause any kind of stress to his son.
Four days after the incident a person came forward and was helping the police with inquiries.
No-one had been charged, a police spokeswoman said.
