Accident shatters dreams of two talented sportsmen [1]
Thursday, September 4, 2008 - 12:30. Updated on Tuesday, April 22, 2014 - 16:29.
By Linny Folau
THE two young players for Tonga's National Aussie Rules team, who were hit by a vehicle while training at Ha'ateiho on August 20, will never be able to walk again due to serious spinal injuries that have left them paralysed.
Paumolevuka Tu'i (18) of Talafo'ou and Mafua Kiokata (22) of Nukunuku, whose aspirations and passion was to play the sport, remain helpless in Vaiola Hospital. The two victims are conscious but are unable to move their bodies and legs.
Dr Kolini Vaea of the Surgical Ward at Vaiola Hospital confirmed today that the two patients would remain paralysed because their spinal cords have been damaged and no treatment or surgery will be able to change that.
Mafua is a more serious case than the other as he is paralysed from neck down, while Paumolevuka can still feel and slightly move his arms but is paralysed from waist down, said the doctor.
He added the boys' prognosis remains as it was when they were first admitted after the accident and that is it is not good.
"The only thing we can do now is monitor the patients and prevent any complications such as chest infections and germs and to help rehabilitate them and their families to adjust to their conditions," he said.
Dreams shattered
The boys parents are shattered as they watch their boys who were so full of life and energy now confined to a hospital bed facing a grim future.
Kilisitina Kiokata, Mafua's mother, said her son has always been a keen rugby player before getting selected for Tonga's National Aussie Rule team this year.
She said his team mates, who departed for Australia on August 25, cried when they visited him because they had such big dreams of making it in the Aussie Rules sport, and this was their first chance of playing in Australia.
Similarly Timote Tu'i, the father of Paumolevuka is devastated because his son, who is paralysed from waist down, is only 18 years old and a Form 5 student at Tonga College.
He said Paumolevuka, the youngest of his six children, had loved playing rugby and sports since a young child. He had played for his school's Under 18 Rugby ream and he started playing Aussie Rules last year when selected for the national team.
"Now we are being told that he will never walk again but still I want to cling on to a hope of him recovering considering he is still very young to be facing such tragedy," said his father.
Accident
The accident took place when the national team was jogging along Taufa'ahau Road at Ha'ateiho on August 20, when a van driven by their training coach Lopaki Fifita was struck at the back by a speeding vehicle. Lopaki who hit his head on the windscreen lost control of the van and ploughed through the team, the two boys were stuck and dragged under the vehicle. Some of the other team members suffered minor injuries.