Swift rescue key to survival

Helicopter crewman Greg Brownson is reunited with Sean Cure, 11, whom he helped to airlift from Maraetai Beach to the Starship children's hospital last year. Photo / Paul Estcourt

One year ago today young Sean Cure was in a jetski accident that doctors feared he would not survive.

The 11-year-old was out with his dad, Dennis, and a group of family friends at Auckland's Maraetai Beach when the jetski he was a passenger on collided with another, striking Sean on the left side of his body and head - and leaving him with critical brain injuries.

Sean was airlifted to the Starship children's hospital in the Westpac Rescue Helicopter and spent two weeks in a coma in intensive care, before moving to the Wilson Centre for children in Takapuna.

Tomorrow he will join helicopter senior crewman Greg Brownson to take to the skies - this time in the passenger seat - to mark the one-year anniversary in style.

"It is just fantastic when guys like Sean come to visit and you see the amazing change from what we saw on the day [of the accident]," Mr Brownson told the Weekend Herald.

It has been a long, at times frustrating, road to recovery for the Cure family. But one that has given them a newfound lease on life.

"We live every day to the fullest. There are no worries in our household," Colleen Cure said with a smile.

She thought there was nothing worse than hearing "your son's been in an accident", until two days later when doctors said he might not live.

But Sean has never been one to give up without a fight.

And this story has a happy ending.

The youngster now has North Island cross-country champs and a career in V8 driving in his sights.

Decked out in knee-length shorts, a "U12 Australian Rugby Tour" training jacket (he is the team's dedicated "water boy"), running shoes and an official Greg Murphy cap, Sean is every bit your average Kiwi sporting lad.

"It was a fluke," the staunch Holden supporter shrugged, in reference to last weekend's Ford win at the Australian V8 Supercar championships in Hamilton. A framed email from Murphy hangs proudly in his bedroom.

Thankfully, Sean can't remember anything about the accident and the months after.

"He lost about six to eight weeks," Mrs Cure said.

But Sean does remember a lot of things. Like learning to bake with his buddies Cam and Robert at the Wilson Centre.

Like foaming up the mirror with shaving cream and scraping it clean to get his arm muscles working again in physiotherapy.

And how could he forget those never-ending steep steps down to St Leonards Beach which he conquered in rehab?

For Mrs Cure the turning point came, quite aptly, on Mother's Day.

As Sean lay in bed with a tube coming out of his nose, someone playfully suggested he had snorted spaghetti. And then came the smile.

"He sort of processed the joke and smiled," Mrs Cure said.

SKY-HIGH DEMAND
* Every two hours a New Zealander is so badly injured or sick they need urgent help by helicopter.
* Rescue helicopters run by charitable trusts throughout New Zealand last year flew to the aid of 5073 such people - 612 in Auckland alone.

THE APPEAL

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter appeal kicks off next week (May 1) with a street collection on May 22. People can donate at any Westpac branch or at www.chopperappeal.co.nz.