Mackay was scheduled for a five-hour operation overnight beginning at 1pm local time (10pm Canberra time). The surgery was a fusion of two vertebrae.

If he responds well to surgery, doctors will likely bring the 26-year-old out of his coma late today.

It is then doctors hope to be able to get a clearer understanding on how Mackay is physically progressing and whether part or full paralysis is likely.

Brumbies coach Andy Friend and team manager Rob McQuade picked Mackay's parents John and Leonie and partner Trish up from Durban airport Tuesday night and took them to the hospital.

Matt Toomua (who lives with Mackay and Trish in Canberra), Patrick Phibbs (who went to school with Mackay), Brumbies assistant coach Owen Finegan and team doctor Warren McDonald also visited the hospital.

Friend described Mackay's parents who he met for the first time the night the Brumbies lost to the Western Force four weeks ago as ''strong people''.

''It's been a really comforting thing for the family knowing Waz [McDonald] has been with Shawn basically the whole time and informing them every step of the way about his progress,'' Friend said.

''I saw Macca [Tuesday] and he looks strong. He's still the same Macca, with his hairstyle all slicked up in the middle.''

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