Young man fighting for his life, not his fault.

Copied from the article Chris Lynch has written.

A Christchurch man is fighting for his life, following a serious assault in Rolleston on Saturday night. His parents spoke to me about their son's situation.

A Christchurch man allegedly seriously assaulted in Rolleston on Saturday night remains in the Intensive Care Unit.

26-year-old Hayden Winter of Hornby was out with friends at a bar when a “tussle broke out.”

His mother Colleen told Chris Lynch it was nothing more than a minor scuffle and nothing came of it.

But when Hayden and his friend went outside to look for their other mates, the situation changed.

“They were walking down a pathway that leads to Liquorland when the offender ‘went at him’ allegedly punching him to the ground.

Colleen said her son’s friends told her that Hayden fell backwards, hitting his head on the ground, causing his lip to completely split.

“He started vomiting and was unconscious and he hasn’t come round since then.”

She said Hayden has a fractured skull, two small brain bleeds, and is heavily sedated with a tube down his throat for breathing.

Colleen said she wanted Hayden’s photo [in ICU] to be made public so people realise how terrible the situation is.

Hayden’s dad Shane said “he’s devastated to see his son in such a bad way. “No father should ever have to see this.”

“He’s totally incoherent. In the mornings, the amazing team at ICU reduce his sedation to see if he’ll come around. He has to follow voice commands, like thumbs up, squeeze my hand, but he can’t do any of that.”

“His legs are going everywhere, his arms are going everywhere, he’s trying to sit up straight, but he’s just totally confused, so then he goes back into heavy sedation.”

“We visit him for eight hours a day at the hospital, and he has his own room. The ICU staff are amazing.”

Colleen said the doctors haven’t given any indication on how long it will take Hayden to recover.

“Tomorrow they’ll try again, reducing his sedation to see how he responds, and then again every day after that until he is coherent.”

“This could go on for weeks.”

She said Hayden changed jobs in January working as a truck driver for Mainfreight and “absolutely loves it. You don’t often hear a young person say they love their job, but he does.”

“He’s fit and healthy so he’s going to come through this, but nobody knows when.”

A 25-year-old man has been arrested and was due to appear in the Christchurch District Court today charged with assaults with intent to injure.

The alleged offender is due back in court on 10th June.

It’s not the first time Colleen and her husband Shane have had to do with tragedy.

Their 17-year-old boy, Troy Craig Winter died unexpectedly in 2015 with lung disease.

Personally added by Gary Davis-Goff. (Hayden's Uncle, Colleen's Brother)

There is going to be a lot of recovery for this young man and none of it was his fault, his parents travel daily to the hospital to be with him and will be there through his rehabiltation. Can you please find it in your hearts to help out as at this stage nobody knows how long this journey will take him or what the end result will be for him. We pray for the best and hope it will be sooner rather than later, it is in gods and Hayden's hands, may they be healing hands, thank you to all that can help.

There is another Givealittle page for Hayden here: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/help-26-year-old-hayden-winter-pull-through-icu