In a development little short of a miracle Mark McGovern, the GAA footballer who has been in a coma after being kicked in the head during a match over a month ago in San Francisco, has finally woken up.

His sister Grace posted on her Facebook that Mark is awake and fully conscious of his surrounding, according to the Irish Times. She also wrote that "Mark is yet to talk but has been trying to lip words in order to communicate with us, Mark has attempted a few steps with assistance.”

“From being told Mark may not make it through the first night to beating a liver condition, pneumonia and MRSA alongside his brain injury, he has fought everything that has been put in front of him,” she added.

Since the accident in San Francisco, Mark has been in California in a coma. His family - parents,  sisters, and uncle - has all been there with him.

Mark has now been removed to  a rehab center where doctors believe he will continue to make great strides

Mark was injured during his first GAA game in America.  He’d come to San Francisco just a week prior to the incident with the intention of staying for the summer with two Belcoo teammates, Emmet Scollan and Ciarán Flaherty. Both teammates were playing in the game that Mark was hurt in.
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Father of injured GAA player Mark McGovern speaks out

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After being kicked in the head, two witnesses reported that an opposing player stood over and told an unconscious Mark, “You won’t get up from that,” implying a planned attack. Although there were close to 50 people at the game, only a few people have come forward with statement, the Irish Times reported.

Police know the identity of the other player, but have not yet interviewed him.

Earlier this week, Mark’s father, Danny McGovern, spoke with the Belfast Telegraph and said, "It's been the worst month ever in our lives. The doctors have told us it's going to be a rollercoaster. There will be good days and bad days. He has been showing signs he might be able to recover but then you just don't know what's going to happen next."