'Say goodbye': Family's warning after son's skateboard fall causes brain hemorrhage

A 12-year-old boy is lucky to be alive after a bump on the head in a skateboard fall almost cost him his life.

In January, Sam Seric was skateboarding with friends when he fell and hit his head.

Sam thought his injury was minor, but hours later the Melbourne boy was fighting for life.

Later that night he woke up in excruciating pain. He was unconscious by the time the ambulance came.

Sam’s condition deteriorated so quickly, he was flown to the Royal Children's Hospital and was on the operating table in less than an hour.

A tiny fracture from the fall caused Sam's brain to hemorrhage, pushing his brain 1.5cm.

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It was an X-ray fracture so small, it almost can't be see in a scan.

The large scar on his head is a reminder of how close he came to losing his life.

“I don't really remember a lot of it,” the youngster told 7 News.

Sam’s parents were prepared for the worst, with doctors telling them to "say goodbye" to their son.

"I didn't know if I was seeing him for the last time,” father Michael Seric said.

It’s not a very significant impact that can cause these injuries, but the hit was directly over an artery in line with the brain.

Neurosurgeon Juliet Clayton quickly removed part of Sam’s skull, relieving the pressure.

Doctors expected there would be brain damage, but remarkably just eight weeks later Michael says his son is good as new.

“We call him, Sam iOS 2.0!”

Mum Julie Robinson added: “If he hadn't woken up [in the night], Juliet said he would have died overnight.

“I think it's changed the way we all interact as a family.”

Sam is back at school doing half days for now, and is counting down the days until he can be active again.

“I still want to go skateboarding, but with a helmet,” he shared with 7 News.

Sam and his dad hoped the close call will serve as a warning to other families.