Apprentice out of induced coma and now 'able to stand' after horrific fall

Australian apprentice Leah Kilner is now able to stand and drink on her own for the first time since her sickening fall at Grafton on July 3.

Kilner, the 24-year-old daughter of Grafton trainer Greg Kilner, was airlifted to Princess Alexandria Hospital in Brisbane after the incident and put into an induced coma.

On July 4, Kilner was cleared of spinal injuries, but remained in an induced coma and had surgery to relieve pressure on her brain.

On Tuesday, Racing NSW released an update and confirmed Kilner's condition was getting better and she was starting to act independently.

"Leah's condition is improving in the High Dependency Ward. She was able to stand for the first time today and is also now able to drink on her own and continues to communicate with family," the statement said.

Greg Kilner said: "They've taken the breathing tubes out, she seems to recognise everybody and knows what's going on. She's even put the racing channel on and told me not to take it off."

Kilner has ridden 204 winners, 40 of them at metropolitan level, from 1,735 rides since starting her competitive riding career in December 2017.

She had only recently returned to the saddle following more than a month on the sidelines after fracturing and displacing a rib at the Doomben trials in February.

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