Editorial: Life can be unfair

Life, sometimes, is bloody unfair.

Dillon Wihongi thought he'd have a laugh and fire a few rounds from a paintgun and frighten a few teenagers standing around talking.

It's not behaviour that anyone would encourage, but it's the sort of dumb thing that young men all over the world do.

There was nothing funny about what happened next.

Jaden Rowland, 17, turned around and was hit in the eye by a paintball which did enough damage to blind him permanently.

Dillon knew he had stuffed up - he urged Jaden into a car and took him to hospital, where Jaden remained for nine days.

Despite treatment and surgery, Jaden will not see again.

Dillon has been ordered to pay Jaden $1000 in reparation.

It is a token gesture for an act that cost Jaden the sight in one eye for life.

$1000 - the price of someone's sight? What, though, is the alternative?

In America, Dillon would be sued until he and his family were broke.

In New Zealand, we hope that as a reckless accident, Jaden will receive compensation through ACC.

No amount of money will change what happened - a 20-year-old made a stupid, reckless decision and was man enough to admit it.

And an innocent teenager got badly hurt. Grossly unfair.

Both Dillon and Jaden have long lives to live and will carry in some form, the negative and positive legacy of what has happened forever.

No it's not fair, but sometimes, as unpalatable as it seems, that's life.