Juan Matute Guimón addressed well-wishers on social media for the first time since collapsing and falling unconscious almost seven weeks ago from a brain bleed.

“I’m back and stronger than ever,” Matute Guimón, 22, shared with his 64,800 Instagram followers on June 19. “Thank you to everyone for your love, support, and prayers.”

Juan Matute Guimón competed Quantico for Spain in his first FEI World Equestrian Games (N.C.) in 2018. Lindsay Berreth Photo

On May 5, Matute Guimón was airlifted to the Hospital Universitario La Paz in Madrid. He underwent emergency surgeries on May 6 and 9 to stop the bleed, which was determined to be caused by an arteriovenous malformation— an abnormal connection of blood vessels—found in the hypothalamus region of his brain, the website EuroDressage.com reported. 

“I couldn’t dream of a better picture to wrap up my posts,” Matute Guimón’s sister Paula Matute Guimón shared via Instagram story on June 20. “I will admit I’m a bit emotional as I type. It has been a long road and this picture gives closure to what had become our worst nightmare. I can’t believe I can finally say Juan is back and from now on he will be the one guiding you through his amazing journey…” Juan Matute Guimón Photo

Matute Guimón was transported to the Hospital Universitario Fundación Jiménez Díaz a few days later for a seven-hour surgery to repair the malformation. Doctors began reversing the medically induced coma on May 20, and Matute Guimón moved from the intensive care unit to a step-down unit on June 15.