In April, following a freak accident, Kerri-Anne Kennerley’s husband John awoke from a coma. He was trapped inside himself – unable to move, eat, or speak to his wife.

“Right now, the most difficult thing is not being able to talk to him,” a devastated Kerri-Anne said at the time of the accident.

Speaking about his accident for the first time on Sunday Night, John remembers the moment he realised he had lost his voice and his movement.

“I remember coming to [in the hospital], and I said to Kerri-Anne, ‘I think I’m paralysed. I can’t move.’ And soon after that I fainted,” John told Sunday Night.

But eight months on, following intensive rehab, John is talking again. He's even walking, with help.

"He's worked like a demon [in rehab]," Kerri-Anne says.

"I've even got to the point where I can walk a few steps in the pool," John reveals.

It's a miraculous recovery, one doctors weren't sure he could ever pull off. It speaks to John's strength of character - but he says he owes it all to Kerri-Anne.

"She never faltered. She's been the strength of my whole recovery. Without her, I wouldn't have attempted it," John says of his wife.

Such a loving, fun, positive & strong couple. John and @kerriannekennerley And now after cheating death, John is coming home. You'll need the tissues tonight. @sundaynighton7 7pm

A photo posted by Melissa Doyle (@melissadoyle7) on Nov 12, 2016 at 11:03pm PST

"She was there when I woke up, and she's been with me every single day."

Despite the huge improvement's John's made in his rehabilitation, the toll the incident has taken on the couple is enormous.

"I hate this new life, quite frankly. I hate it. If I could rub Aladdin's lamp or get a magic wand, I want my old life back," the Australian television personality reveals.

"I want my husband back. But I still have my husband... we're just different now.

"There's no question it's been very painful - excruciating - emotionally and physically. It is pretty time consuming, and it will get more so."

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Kerri-Anne and John in happier times. Image via Getty. [/img_caption]

Recently, John returned to the couple's home, which Kerri-Anne had fitted out with ramps for his access. She's even installed a lift, to get John upstairs to the couple's bedroom.

John was reunited with his beloved dog, Digger, and was met with the bittersweet discovery that while he can't pat his best friend like he used to, he can still raise his right arm and place it on Digger's head.

Although John's range of movement is improving, he'll never go back to the way he was before.

"One day I was just with one of the physios," John says, "and I said, 'I'm looking forward to when I can write a cheque'. And she said, 'I don't think you'll be able to do that with your injury'."

But Kerri-Anne, who has always been John's rock, is still holding out hope.

"I've figured out there's no magic wands, but there's always hope. Miracles do happen."

She would know - she's already got one sitting in her lounge room.