NZ’s indelible mark on UK man
A trip of a lifetime to see the British and Irish Lions play in New Zealand was derailed when London man Lawrence Double, 25, suffered a stroke.
Lawrence along with father Cliff had been planning their 2017 holiday for close to a year - which was to include seven rugby matches, kayaking, white water rafting as well as climbing and bungy jumping off Auckland’s Harbour Bridge.
Only five days after the pair arrived in June and two days after watching their first game, Lawrence, then 24, suffered a stroke in Paihia. Lawrence was admitted to the Bay of Islands Hospital before being transferred to Whangarei Hospital where he stayed for over two weeks for scans, and to plan his rehab.
Nine months on, Lawrence and his father Cliff thank staff at the Bay of Islands and Whangarei Hospitals, as well as the Lions and All Blacks management which have provided some special memories in the wake of the lifechanging event.
‘‘Lawrence continues to make small strides to improve his speech which is still his most obvious problem, physically he seems fine,’’ Cliff says. ‘‘He wants to recover his speech a bit more and say a personal thank you to all of those at Whangarei Hospital who helped him in June 2017. These include Dr Alan Davis, stroke nurse Teresa, physiotherapist Claire, speech/language therapist Lucy and occupational therapist Tanya.’’
The family decided to donate two test match tickets and accommodation in a staff raffle for Whangarei Hospital which was won by stroke ward nurse Sonja.
Signed rugby jerseys were provided by the All Blacks and Lions which now take pride of place on Lawrence’s wall. Phil Desmond and son Brett, owner of Swiss Chalet in Paihia, where the pair were staying, made contact with All Blacks manager Darren Shand who they kept in touch with for months afterwards.
During the All Blacks end of year tour, manager Darren Shand organised for Lawrence to attend a private training session in England and meet the team. ‘‘They were great memories for Lawrence to remind him that the events in New Zealand which has put his life on hold for a year or so, and which left an indelible mark on him, also left some really positive messages and memor- ies,’’ Cliff says.