JOCKEY Leah Kilner has started a 'miracle' recovery from a horrific fall that almost took her life.
The Australian sensation, 24, was rushed to hospital in a coma after coming off a horse in a race earlier this month.
Since then her improvement has stunned doctors – and now her family have released touching photos of her in hospital.
In one, Leah is seen holding a fluffy toy horse, her knuckles showing the cuts suffered when she fell head-first from horse Stella's Turn.
In another, her hand forms one half of a heart symbol, the other hand being that of best mate Bianca Grob.
Leah's dad Greg, a trainer himself, said Leah's first words when she woke from her coma were: "Don't give away the horses."
Speaking of talking to his daughter for the first time since her sickening fall rocked racing Down Under, Greg said: "Leah must have thought I was going to give up training because of all this, and she didn’t want me to.
"It is unbelievable how she has come through, it’s really a miracle, if you had seen her in the first couple of days it was just heartbreaking.
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"When she got shifted from intensive care into a ward she got a TV and she flicked through the channels and put it straight on to racing.com and sat down and watched the races.
"Now she is recognising everyone and knows what’s going on.
"She is aware of everything. It is amazing.
"Leah is still very sleepy as she has got a lot of pain in her shoulder where she broke the collarbone and broke a couple of ribs.
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"She has got to have a cognitive scan when she gets a little bit better but I think they are very happy with her progress.
"She hasn’t really asked what happened yet."
Leah's manager Brad Glendenning provided more positive news, saying: "The physio was able to have her stand assisted and supported by them for a short period of time and she was able to have a small drink and a small amount of food.
"Leah’s mum sent me a couple of photos to share with you and again thank you all for your unbelievable support – she really is feeling the love."
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