Human tricolore needs somewhere to stay

Jovial France fan Stephen Giroud is asking for help. Photo / Supplied

A wheelchair-bound Frenchman with two shattered heels and a broken wrist - wrapped in patriotic casts - needs help finding somewhere to live.

"I'm really struggling because every time we look at a flat or something, there's a step, so I get stuck. So I hope someone can give us a hand," Stephen Giroud said.

In early August, the 24-year-old came to New Zealand with his English girlfriend Sarah Taylor to travel around on the Kiwi Experience bus.

They spent three "wonderful" weeks travelling before heading to Queenstown where a skiing trip to Cadrona ended badly when Mr Giroud tried to take a jump without enough speed and came down hard on his heels.

"I smashed both my heels on the ground because there wasn't enough snow ... and my thumb as well."

Mr Giroud, from Lyon, was taken to Southland Hospital in Invercargill for surgery to fix his left heel.

"I was ... able to choose the colour of my casts and, considering France's inevitable win over the All Blacks this coming Saturday, I opted for a blue cast on my hand, white on one leg and red on the other one.

"A little bit of patriotism is good sometimes."

He said the care he received was "fantastic" and he was very grateful that cheap accommodation was arranged for Miss Taylor, 27, so she could be nearby when he needed her.

Once he got the all-clear to fly, they moved to Auckland - but ran into trouble finding somewhere affordable and wheelchair-friendly to live.

They are staying with a friend's parents in Mt Eden, but don't want to put them out much longer so theyhave spent their days hunting forflats.

"We need to live somewhere in the city because I cannot get around very easily and if we're in the suburbs I might be stuck there."

Mr Giroud said they had seen places which were wheelchair-accessible, but they were much too expensive because "prices have skyrocketed with the onset of the World Cup".

The couple hope to stay here until Christmas - but have not ruled out coming back in the New Year.

"We really love it here. The New Zealand people and all the Kiwis are more than friendly and have been fantastic with us.

"This is why I really want to stay in the country. The French people are not as friendly - it's not the same."

They have been enjoying the World Cup "very much", particularly when they were in Invercargill.

"I was in a wheelchair, but I didn't feel like I was in a wheelchair because I was in the bar every day," said Mr Giroud. "It was a very good time."

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