The sister of a 15-year-old boy fighting for his life says her family has been bowled over by the support and prayers from the community.

Bermuda national junior football player Dakarai Tucker remains in a coma at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore but his sister Rosha Gibbons said the family is feeling optimistic.

"Dakarai is coming home," she said. "There is no question in my mind. He is a fighter. Yesterday the doctors did some tests and they showed his body is responding to pain — which is a good sign.

"I can't even explain the outpouring of support and prayers our family has received, to say it is overwhelming is an understatement. We are just so thankful for everyone's concern.

"I can't believe all these people who have never even met my brother are holding prayer groups and donating money.

Ms Gibbons, 28, said a bank account is being opened next week because so many people have asked how they can give monetary donations to assist with Dakarai's mounting medical bills. And a special prayer service would be held at Seventh Day Adventist Hamilton Church on Wednesday evening.

The popular Warwick Academy student went to school on Monday feeling fine. Soon after lunch he began to complain of a severe headache.

Minutes later he started to be sick and passed out. An ambulance was called and he was rushed to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital where they had to drill a hole in his head to release the pressure. Within hours he was medevaced off the Island.

Dakarai is well liked at school and plays foootball for the Under-15 National Team and the Under-15 and Under-18 teams for at Warwick Academy.

He is also seen as a role model for his younger siblings Ajani, 11, Omari, nine and Shani, five, who attend Paget Primary.

"It's been hard for them as they really look up to Dakarai," Ms Gibbons said. "They don't really understand what is going on at the moment but they know Dakarai is sleeping at the moment and doctors are trying to help him."

Meanwhile the Facebook page "Pray for Dakarai Tucker", created by his friends, now has more than 500 members and prayers have come in from around the world.

The special prayer service at Seventh Day Adventist Hamilton Church on King Street will be held on Wednesday from 6.30-7.45 p.m. and donations can be made at the service.