My Kitchen Rules larrikin Harry Curtis proved he is on the mend by making his first public appearance since sustaining a spinal injury in a botched stunt last month.

The Melbourne rowdy, who worked with his best mate Christo Gibson on the hit show Seven, was rushed to hospital with serious injuries on January 14 after jumping from a bollard into shallow water at a Melbourne beach.

Curtis lost consciousness after the jump and it turned out that he had broken several vertebrae in his neck and suffered a minor brain injury.

The 25-year-old was lucky to be able to use his legs again after a temporary paralysis, but he says he still suffers from short-term memory loss and has to undergo intensive rehabilitation.

Curtis was determined to put the accident behind him as he and Gibson prepared for the opening of the 2014 Melbourne Festival of Racing this week.

He addressed the topic of his frequent flirtations with the female contestants on “My Kitchen Rules,” saying that his cheerful nature is often mistaken for something more.

“I just try to be polite, have a little fun and enjoy the time at the table,” he said.

However, he added that he was unable to try out his newfound fame with the ladies because he was stuck at home recovering from his recovery.