ACT Brumbies player Shawn Mackay remains in a critical condition in a South African hospital as doctors prepare to bring him out of a medically-induced coma.

Mackay, 26, suffered a cervical spinal fracture and dislocation, a fractured skull as well as a broken leg and multiple facial fractures and lacerations when he was hit by a car in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The incident occurred about 4.15am Durban time on Sunday when Mackay and a number of other Brumbies were leaving a nightclub, having wound down after their Super 14 loss to the Sharks on Saturday night.

Mackay's parents, John and Leonie, and girlfriend Trish flew to South Africa on Tuesday to be by his side when he is brought out of a coma.

That may not be until Wednesday morning Durban time.

"It will probably be tonight South African time, or tomorrow morning South African time," Brumbies media spokesman Nick Smith said on Tuesday.

"But once again there's no guarantee, it could be quite a slow process," he said.

Mackay was crossing a road to get to a team security van for the trip back to the hotel when he was hit by the car.

South African police say the driver of the car, which belonged to an armed response security company, may be charged with reckless and negligent driving.

The driver is understood to have initially left the scene before returning 10 minutes later.

The Brumbies players were leaving a nightclub when Mackay was struck by the car.

The players still out when the incident occurred were Stirling Mortlock, Mark Gerrard, Nic Henderson, George Smith, Josh Holmes, Salesi Ma'afu, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Christian Lealiifano, Patrick Phibbs, Ben Hand, Gene Fairbanks, Huia Edmonds, Tyrone Smith, Francis Fainifo and Peter Kimlin.

The players at the scene then followed Mackay and an ambulance to Durban's St Augustine's Hospital where he underwent surgery on Sunday.

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