Scalped man walks again

Papamoa father Nathan Standen says words cannot express the gratitude he feels for the people who helped him after he was scalped in a freak accident three weeks ago. Photo / John Borren

A Papamoa man who survived a horrific freak accident which left him scalped and with a break in his neck is back home and walking again, crediting his recovery to an avalanche of support from friends, family and complete strangers.

Three weeks ago Nathan Standen volunteered to help load trucks at Fagan's Valley Raceway.

He was loading gear needed for the Farmer AutoVillage Tauranga Street Race when lifting equipment failed and things went horribly wrong.

The Papamoa father was scalped and a vertebrae in his neck was fractured in two places.

Mr Standen, who normally plays rugby for the Papamoa Golden Oldies, was rushed to Tauranga Hospital, where he was bed-ridden for five days.

A metal halo with 6-8mm bolts screwed into Mr Standen's skull was put in place. He will wear the device for at least six weeks, with tightening from a torque wrench needed every two weeks.

The image of Mr Standen with the imposing metal frame around his head was tough at first for his and fiance Lilly Vao's two children Sharn, 15, and Kyran, 6.

"It's was very traumatic for the little one.

"He was quite upset," Ms Vao said.

But through the support of the Papamoa community, Mr Standen and Ms Vao have been able to focus their energy on his recovery and the wellbeing of their boys.

"It's absolutely overwhelming to know we have that support out there.

"Without [it], I may not have got to where I am now so quickly," Mr Standen said.

A scar that streaks across Mr Standen's head is evidence of just how close he came to death but already Mr Standen is walking unaided and has an iron-claw of a handshake.

After five days in hospital, Mr Standen began taking "baby steps" using a zimmer-frame.

This progressed to crutches, then one crutch then finally unaided daily walks around the ward.

While the accident was something the couple would prefer to forget, Mr Standen expressed deep gratitude for the people who looked after him while waiting for ambulance staff to arrive. Some he knew personally, many he did not.

Members of the Greerton United Ryukyu Kempo Club performed first aid while another member instead turned to his faith - later explaining to Mr Standen he prayed "to the only man who could help" before calling on his wife to do the same. She did, and then called all of her faith-based friends to do likewise in a swift prayer chain.

The local bakery has taken care of the boys' lunches for the rest of the school term, teachers have baked cakes, local families have cooked "two freezers' full" of ready-to-eat meals and even the family dogs are taken on walks by community members.

Mr Standen is now at home, being cared for by Ms Vao.

The couple hope the halo will be removed by Christmas.

Mr Standen and Ms Vao said it was impossible to thank everyone but stressed that key people whose support had "made a difference" included Kevin and Kerri Turanga, Sarah Phillips and her family, Danielle and Raman Forbes, the Papamoa Rugby Club, National Bank Tauranga and ISO Limited.