Life was great for Tamati Paul in 1998 - he was a top kapa haka performer, a champion surf lifesaver, dad to a young son and planning to bring home an Olympic gold medal in kayaking.
That all changed in an instant when Mr Paul, his partner and son were on the road between Gisborne and Tolaga Bay and a drunk driver, travelling at 165km/h on the wrong side of the road, collided with their car.
Students at Rangitikei College watched the ACC-sponsored film documenting the crash and its aftermath which showed the wrecked vehicles at the site and Mr Paul's injuries which included serious brain damage, a collapsed lung, loss of full eyesight and virtually every bone in his right side shattered.
After 16 hours of operations and many months in hospital, Mr Paul was nursed by his devoted parents who described how they would strap his body to a board when they needed to bath him.
The prognosis was not good and it was doubtful that Mr Paul would ever walk or speak again.