Dad emerges from coma to learn his son is dead

Mark and Liam Cooper in a family photograph.

The father of 8-year-old Liam Cooper has just been told his son is dead.

Mark Cooper has been in a coma since a car crash in Tokoroa last month which took his son's life and left him on life support in Waikato Hospital.

"I have told him about Liam and he reacted pretty much the way you would expect," Liam's mother Simone Cooper told the Herald on Sunday.

"I could only tell him a bit about it and there is still a lot more for him to learn and that will take time."

Mrs Cooper said one of the main things that was getting her through was the emotional and financial support from the community.

"If it wasn't for the community and all their support I wouldn't be able to be at Mark's side - we just wouldn't be able to afford it," Mrs Cooper said.

"We have had people donate money to the Cooper family trust, and had people who don't even know us send us money.

"The support is amazing and it's what keeps us going," she said.

Liam was killed when a car driven by Taupo man Pehi Rangi, 24, slammed into the car he was in.

Mr Cooper was critically injured and their friend Rowan Pringle, who was in the driver's seat, was also seriously hurt.

Rangi, who has a history of mental illness, has been charged with manslaughter and has been remanded in custody until Wednesday.

Mrs Cooper was upset that she has had to struggle to pay more than $100 a day in accommodation and bills to be by her husband's side at Waikato Hospital with no Government support.

Friends and strangers have rallied around the family, cooked meals and had auctions to raise money.

"We miss out because we don't have a community services card but we struggle - it's not like we are rich. We have had a lot of help from the community which we appreciate so much, but it's the Government that should be helping."

Mr Cooper had been in a drug-induced coma since the car crash and missed his son's funeral.

He had successful surgery on his back last week and is now slowly coming out of the coma.

"He is progressing a lot better now and is doing a lot of sleeping," Mrs Cooper said.

"He is still very confused."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY