Officer shakes off scorpion’s sting to play sport
After suffering a crush injury to his back and being stung by a scorpion, Daryl Burton thought his days of playing sport were over.
But in a few weeks, the Palmerston North man will be heading to Toronto to compete in the 2017 Invictus Games.
The Invictus Games is an adaptive sporting event for ill, wounded and injured Defence Force members or veterans.
The New Zealand army reserve warrant officer said the discs in his lower back were damaged when he was in Bosnia after he jumped off a truck and landed on one leg, causing a crush injury to his back.
But it was the scorpion sting in East Timor 17 years ago that set off a domino effect on his health.
He developed hyperthyroid issues and Burton said his body basically started poisoning itself.
Then he began suffering from a muscle deficiency, which meant he could not hold any strength, making running impossible.
‘‘It started off a chain reaction. It was one thing after another.’’
Burton thought that was the end of his sporting career, having been a keen rugby and football player before that, so he took up coaching instead.
He is the head coach of the New Zealand Defence Force women’s football team, manages the army masters football team and coaches the Feilding women’s football team in the Manawatu women’s first division.
A manager for the Invictus Games thought Burton still had some sporting years left and talked him into putting his hand up.
Since being selected for the team, Burton said it had huge positive effects.
‘‘It has already meant a change of attitude – from what I could no longer do, to what I can do.’’
This increased motivation saw him enter the City to Surf race in Sydney this year and Burton said he walked the 14-kilometre course with only a walking stick for support.
At the Invictus Games he will be competing in tennis, wheelchair basketball and rugby.
‘‘To compete, but also having the chance to share my experiences and possibly help someone else and learn from others living in similar circumstances is what I am most looking forward to when attending the games,’’ he said.
The NZ Defence Force is sending 25 people to compete against more than 600 athletes from 16 countries.
Athletes will compete in 12 adaptive sports, including sitting volleyball, powerlifting and golf.