In what has been a horror week for the team, the Brumbies finally received positive news regarding their stricken teammate last night.

Doctors brought Mackay out of a medically-induced coma and he has displayed initial signs of progress when he responded to questions by blinking.

He was also able to recognise his parents John and Leonie and partner Trish, who are at his bedside.

The good news came after five hours of surgery on Wednesday to join two of Mackay's vertebrae.

Mackay suffered a broken neck, broken leg and multiple facial fractures when he was hit by a car in Durban in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The two rounds of surgery he had an initial operation on his neck on Sunday have both been successful, giving his family and friends renewed hope his recovery could be better than expected.

Doctors at St Augustine's hospital in Durban, where Mackay has been since his accident, said his spine was now stable and he had responded to simple questions.

While it remained too early to determine the full extent of the injuries, doctors were thrilled the 26-year-old utility forward was able to react to the initial questioning.

Any further development is likely to be a slow process, the doctors said.

For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times