Basketball player tries to piece his life back together

Two years ago Nelson man Tony Ashton was shooting for the stars, with dreams of furthering his basketball career and overseas travel.

Now, the 21-year-old's immediate goals are walking and learning to do his own cooking and laundry.

Up until May last year he was halfway through a degree in physical education, and was following his passion for basketball as captain of the University of Otago B team.

Now he finds simple things he used to take for granted, such as walking and looking after himself, a challenge.

The blow that slam-dunked his life happened during a basketball game on May 8 last year. St Kilda Wildcats player David Jarvis elbowed Mr Ashton in the head, knocking him unconscious for 13 days and causing severe disability.

Jarvis, 44, was found guilty by a jury of injuring Mr Ashton under circumstances that if death had been caused he would have been guilty of manslaughter.

He was convicted and discharged, and last week ordered to pay $10,000 reparation to Mr Ashton.

On an invalid's benefit, Mr Ashton's education in tatters and with no hope of any return to competitive basketball, he is disappointed with the reparation amount, which did not even cover his $15,000 student loan.

"As a result of my injury my life has changed unexpectedly, as have the lives of my family," he said. "I am now reliant on the help and support of family, friends and my rehab team."

"I was just hoping to get money to help me in my future and move on," Mr Ashton said. "The only way I really wanted to hurt Jarvis was in his pocket. I was hoping he would feel that for quite some time like I have to go through this for the rest of my life."

With partial paralysis of his left hand, restricted movement of his left arm, a lingering limp and fatigue from his brain injury, Mr Ashton has similar symptoms to a stroke victim.

He has launched into a busy rehabilitation programme, which includes gym work, walking and sessions with a psychiatrist and an independence coach to learn the basics of living, like how to do his laundry, clean a flat, budget and do dishes.

Pinned to the walls of his room at a rehabilitation house in Nelson where he has been living since February and where he celebrated his 21st birthday are motivational notes he has written to himself, along with a picture of the great boxer Muhammad Ali.

"I used to be inspired by Michael Jordan, but Muhammad Ali seems the better one now," Mr Ashton said.

Among his goals is to leave the rehabilitation home within 12 months.

A picture of the NBS Nelson Giants, which Mr Ashton had aspired to play for, is also stuck to the wall.

Despite his injury he does not want the game he loves to be changed in any way, saying he enjoyed the physical side of the sport.

"If they make it more non-contact just because of what this guy decided to do, I would be disappointed."

Mr Ashton hoped to return to his studies one day but rehabilitation was his first priority, and he said he would not have got so far without the support of his family, friends and the Brain Injury Association of Nelson.

He wanted to be able to forgive Jarvis and move on with his life.

"I haven't quite got to the point where I have forgiven him, but I'm close.

"Holding a grudge against him would just hamper my life," he said. "I've just got to look at the future.

"I'm lucky to be alive, very lucky."

- NZPA