An Australian father-of-three has made an incredible recovery after a one-punch attack left him in a coma and his family planning his funeral.

Beau Shortis' life support was turned off after he suffered brain damage and went into a coma following a punch to the head at his best friend's engagement party in 2017, 7 News reports.

Victoria police have charged a man with assault in relation to the incident.

According to his sister, the family didn't think he was going to wake up - and were actively planning his funeral from his hospital bedside.

"The doctors told us there was nothing more they could do, that they would try, that they would never give up on him," she told 7 News.

Sixty of Mr Shortis' friends came to visit him while he was in hospital - and two days after his life support was turned off, the 34-year-old came out of his coma, breaking down crying when he woke.

"There's a reason why I'm here, I don't know what that reason is," he said. "It's just not my time yet."

After waking from the coma, Mr Shortis spent a further nine weeks in hospital, including five at an acquired brain injury clinic.

He's now working on getting his life back together, spending time with his three children and going to his rehabilitation twice a week.

"Family is everything to me - as long as they've still got their dad, that makes me happy," he said.

Newshub.