Coming home for Christmas
Josh has been in neW Zealand for many months as he reCovers from shoCKing brain inJury after alleged assault
A DERBY man who has been in New Zealand recovering from life-threatening brain injuries following an alleged assault is set to return to the UK with his family in time for Christmas.
Many months of rehabilitation still lie ahead for Josh Storer, who was left in a coma after the incident in Auckland in July and had to have a new artificial skull in November, because the right half of his skull was removed in earlier surgery.
But now his sister Sian Storer says the whole family, who live in Spondon, are delighted that doctors have said Josh is well enough to fly home and he is very excited at the prospect of coming back.
Josh, 26, had been in New Zealand since April 2018, on a working visa and employed as a plumber by a drainage company, when the incident happened.
His family had been due to fly out to visit him when the Covid pandemic struck in 2020. The visit was postponed but following the alleged assault, they struggled to fly to New Zealand because of pandemic restrictions.
After a desperate plea to be let into the country, they secured a border exemption and arrived in New Zealand on July 22 and were able to see their son after completing a quarantine period.
Sian, who travelled to see Josh in New Zealand, but has since returned home, said: “It feels surreal. Six months ago we were told it was unlikely he would make it through, now he’s had his surgeries and he’s on his way to rebuilding his life – it’s amazing.
“My mum and dad and Josh will have to have PCR tests 48 hours before they fly on December 21 and then they have to do two PCR tests here in the UK as well.
“So I’m not sure what Christmas looks like at the moment. They will be jetlagged and very exhausted, but I am looking forward to having them all back home.
“It’s been the longest six months of our lives, so it’ll be nice for us all to be home together in time for Christmas.”
Josh told the New Zealand Herald that he is “glad to be alive”.
He said: “I didn’t know I was going to make it through alive, but I’m so glad I did and I just want to thank you all, and thank my family, it’s unbelievable who I want to thank for this.
“It just brought me down, obviously, when I didn’t have the right side of my head but due to the operation and the surgeon that did it, I just want to thank him massively for the effort that he put in. “Having my skull back and waking up in the morning, when I’m getting ready or whatever, and I look in the mirror and I’ve actually got a full head again.” According to Sian, Josh still has problems with his left arm and some cognitive functions, but he is aiming for a full recovery and to regain his fitness. And she says he has not ruled out returning to New Zealand.
Josh will be accompanied on the flight by his mum and dad, Dawn and Ian Storer, into whose care he was released on October 1, having spent the previous months in hospital and rehabilitation. Since then, the trio have tried to make the most of the time after his skull surgery on November 17, including a visit to Sky Tower and the beach.
Ian told the New Zealand Herald: “We would like to thank everyone who has helped us through this long and traumatic experience.
“Josh’s New Zealand friends and all the well-wishers, we’ve had loads of people over here getting in touch with us. They’ve been incredibly supportive. Josh’s friends have more or less become a second family to us all.”
Friends in Derby have also been doing their bit to raise money on a GoFundMe page “Help the Storer family get to Josh” set up to help the family travel to and stay in New Zealand. The fund now stands at just over £15,000.
They also organised a charity football match at the Borrowash Victoria AFC ground on September 19, which raised £3,522.
Prior to moving to New Zealand, Josh was a plumber in the UK, after completing his education at West Park School, in Spondon.
A 56-year-old man has been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and will appear in court in Auckland on February 22.
It’s been the longest six months of our lives, so it’ll be nice for us all to be home together for Christmas. Sian Storer