Crash teen lost sight, taste, hearing, smell and has premature ageing

Graham Clarke and George Cairney will be spreading the word about how drink driving can change lives at a Christchurch Boys' High School talk. Photo / Margot Tay

Christchurch Boys' High School students are about to get a sobering lesson.

George Cairney's life was completely changed in 2008 when he sat in the passenger's seat of a car beside a driver who had been drinking. The car crashed into a brick wall at 135km/h.

He will talk about the crash to students at the high school's hall on October 18 from 7pm.

At the time Cairney, 24, was 17 and attended King's College in Auckland.

Taking most of the impact of the crash, he is now legally blind and has lost his sense of taste, hearing and smell, as well as developing diabetes, epilepsy and premature ageing.

After a month in a coma, Cairney also lost his memory from a year before and after the crash.

His talk will discuss the road to recovery from his injuries, as well as the decisions that led him to get into the car on that tragic day.

Cairney, who lives in Wanaka, will be supported during the talk by his mentor and friend Graham Clarke, who has his own story to tell.

His son was killed after getting behind the wheel after he'd been drinking.

Boys' High principal Nic Hill has invited students from all schools around the city and the wider community to hear the story of "sadness, recovery, love and strength".

Hill said the school is encouraging students to have emotional conversations about alcohol and driving.

"These are conversations that we as adults have to be starting. There is a parental role in making sure our boys are equipped to be safe," he said.

- Star.kiwi