Archer's death highlights problems

Friends and family of champion archer Neroli Fairhall, who died at home in Christchurch of a heart attack, are angry she did not get the specialist hospital care she needed.

Despite a "long list" of medical complaints and doctors' best efforts, Fairhall, 61, was refused admission to Burwood Hospital's spinal unit in the months leading to her death because there was no room.

The Commonwealth Games gold medallist's health was deteriorating before her death, but she could not get medical help.

Friend Chloe Smith, 25, lifted Fairhall from her wheelchair to perform CPR when she collapsed suddenly on June 11.

Ms Smith then gave a statement to police, who told her a doctor had been surprised to hear of Fairhall's sudden collapse.

"It made me really angry. She had a list of medical complaints... How much do people have to go through to be recognised?"

President of Archery New Zealand Colin Mitchell described Fairhall's situation as "disgusting".

"She was the name of Archery New Zealand. As soon as you mentioned you shot arrows, people always remembered her."

Christchurch Archery Club member Dave Henshaw said Fairhall had at times been quite angry. "She didn't feel the system was doing enough. It's so sad."

Fairhall was paralysed in January 1969 after a motorcycle accident. She went on to be the first wheelchair athlete to represent her country at an Olympic Games and won gold at the Brisbane Commonwealth Games in 1982.

New Zealand Spinal Trust chief executive Andrew Hall, a tetraplegic, said Fairhall's case highlighted multiple problems in the spinal injury system.