Paintball mishap may cost an eye

'If they can say they can fix it that will be a bonus," he said, "but I'm preparing myself to hear that they can't, so I won't be disappointed if the worst comes to the worst" - Chris Getty

Kaitaia man Chris Getty lives and breathes paintball, and even a freak accident that might cost him his right eye hasn't curbed his enthusiasm.

Mr Getty will undergo surgery next month to determine how much damage was done when he was struck by a ball from a range of less than ten metres at a paintball range in Whangarei on May 6, but he already knows that the impact detached the lens. Surgeons wouldn't be able to offer an accurate prognosis until they looked behind the lens, he said last week.

Last week he had extremely limited vision in his right eye, and was preparing himself for the worst.

"If they can say they can fix it that will be a bonus," he said, "but I'm preparing myself to hear that they can't, so I won't be disappointed if the worst comes to the worst.

"They may be able to attach a new lens, but they have to see how much damage has been done first."

Mr Getty was in the 'safe zone' when he was hit. He estimated that the ball had a velocity of 240km/h when it left the barrel of the gun, and that it struck him less than one-third of a second later. He spent the next four days in Whangarei Hospital, and still has no idea when he'll be able to return to his job at a Kaitaia service station.

ACC had been "their usual useful selves," repeatedly asking why he couldn't go back to work and questioning his medication.

"I'm supposed to be in bed, not moving, so I'm not sure how they expect to see me back at work," he said.

"I don't know how long I'll be off work after surgery. It's all up in the air."

He was not surprised to learn that he had suffered significant damage - "It felt as though my eye was coming out the back of my head" - and the accident had attracted interest from all over the world.

An American website (www.a5og.net/general-paintball-related-discussion/47255-warning-graphic-paintball-vs-eyeball.html) had had 14,000 hits as of last week, and he had received strong support from the paintball community.

"The Canadians want to send me some beer," he said.

"I told them it'll cost them $1 for the beer and $20 to get it here."

The possible loss of an eye wasn't going to put him off his chosen sport though.

"More people are injured ten pin bowling than playing paintball," he said.

"I'm glad the ball didn't burst though, and that it was me rather than a kid. It could easily have been a child, which would have been tragic."