Chiefs assistant coach Andrew Strawbridge, who suffered a serious eye infection while in Samoa, is giving back to the hospital that saved him with help from generous New Zealanders.
The 51-year-old was on a flight to the country's capital Apia in July when a scratch to his eye became infected.
He was on his way to work as technical advisor for the Manu Samoa team which were playing the All Blacks, but had to admitted to hospital soon after arriving.
Strawbridge and his wife Laura wanted to express gratitude to people who had donated more than $65,000 to their Givealittle appeal to provide medical equipment for the Moto'otua National Hospital intensive care unit.
There were 687 donations with many heart felt messages accompanying them, a statement from the couple said.
Donors shared their own stories, with both sad and happy endings.
Strawbridge has lost sight in his right eye, but considers himself lucky.
"This experience has taught us a lot about the human spirit, the kindness of people, and how lucky and well resourced we are in New Zealand with our hospitals and primary care physicians," he said.
"The enormity of the gratitude my wife Laura and I feel overwhelms us. We thank everyone who has supported us in my recovery and helped us with our Samoan appeal, allowing us to provide much needed medical equipment for the Moto'otua National Hospital Intensive Care Unit."
He credits Dr Dave Galler and the intensive care unit teams at Moto'otua National Hospital and Waikato Hospital with saving his life, with the support of the air ambulance crew who flew him from Apia to Hamilton.
After the Strawbridge's story aired on television, there was another flood of donations as well as offers of medical equipment.
The first shipment of medical equipment has been transported to Samoa.
