Source: Otago Daily Times
Eight years ago, Levi Mihaka's life changed quickly. The Wheel Landers captain tells
Kayla Hodge how wheelchair rugby gave him a new perspective.
LEVI Mihaka was soaking up the summer.
The Whangarei man had headed to a local beach with a bunch of his friends to wrap up 2018.
They were enjoying themselves swimming when Mihaka dived off the beach into a river mouth and broke his neck.
''I'd over-rotated and just went down headfirst into the sand,'' Mihaka said.
Despite the life-changing moment, Mihaka still considers himself lucky.
''I was lucky enough to be able to swim myself up and with my arms on fire, I couldn't feel my legs.
''Being quadriplegic, I could feel the nerve pain in my arms.
''I've lost the sensation in my arms and [have] a weakened grip, but I could still use my arms to save myself and faintly call for help for my friends.''
They dragged Mihaka out of the water and he was rushed to Middlemore Hospital, in Auckland, where surgeons repaired his neck with a piece of his hip.
''I was coming to terms with it basically as soon as it happened.
''I was already seeing myself as, you know, maybe some kind of inspiring guy from a wheelchair.
''I'd rather it be me than any of my friends, because we're all young and dumb, you know?''
After the accident, Mihaka spent six months in a rest-home figuring out what he wanted to do with his life in a wheelchair.
The qualified builder moved to Auckland to study quantity surveying, found himself a flat and started setting up his life in the city.
ACC jumped on board, helping Mihaka gain independence with an adaptive vehicle, securing a clip-on bike attachment for his wheelchair and suitable options for sport.
''They want you to have the same quality of life and some similar lifestyle as possible as before your accident.''
Mihaka, who played football growing up and rugby in his final year at Dilworth School, soon found wheelchair rugby and a community that had his back.
He spent four years playing for Auckland - winning a couple of trophies along the way - and immediately found like-minded people with whom he could continue playing sport.
''Some of the early benefits that you don't realise are . . . you're connected straight away.
''You're connected to people who have been doing it for years and they're in the same position as you, or even more disabled, who are doing more than you.
''They're not going to let you make excuses for yourself.
''They're going to push you . . . because they know what you're capable of. They're going to push you to be your best, and show you, and teach you things that you didn't know you could do.
''It's also a new perspective, because everyone's doing something different.
''They come from a different background and they've adapted themselves . . . to fit back into the same lifestyle that they had before. It's all really interesting.''
It also gave him new found freedom and a reason to get out of the house away from work.
''Especially when you're all in that position . . . trying to keep yourself together after that kind of life event.''
Playing at tournaments was a passion for players and helped connect the sport as one big family, Mihaka said.
''It's like a big community. You start meeting people, getting to know people and we're all trying to help each other out.
''It's a competitive tournament, but it's like in rugby how you can smash someone and have a beer after the game together - we're all helping each other out.''
Mihaka moved to Dunedin three years ago after meeting his partner, Dunedin woman Emily Robertson, through the sport.
He quickly joined the Wheel Landers, Otago's wheelchair rugby team. He is part of the Wheel Blacks' wider training squad, and has also played wheelchair table tennis.
Dunedin is hosting the national wheelchair rugby championships for the first time at the Edgar Centre this week, bringing New Zealand's top players to the South. Some athletes from the Australian development side are also making the trip.
Mihaka, who has previously been part of a TVNZ documentary, Unbreakable, will suit up for both Otago and Auckland to help with limited travelling numbers at the tournament, which starts on Friday.
The tournament will be accompanied by a communityled disability sports festival, featuring adaptive sports from ice hockey to table tennis.
Mihaka encouraged the community to support the tournament and festival, and encouraged anyone considering wheelchair rugby to give it a go.
''We're a pretty decent group of Kiwis,'' Mihaka said.
''You never know - at least come and try it for yourself and you probably will like it because it's so fun.
''Whenever we have the chance to welcome someone . . . we help them the best we can.
''Hopefully, they might like it as much as we do.''