Hunter

DESPITE two near-death experiences since moving from Queensland in 2016, Cameron Holzheimer is not giving up on chasing his football dream in Newcastle.

The 20-year-old Lake Macquarie Roosters defender started his rehabilitation at the Hunter Brain Injury Service at Bar Beach on Monday, just over two weeks since his skull was fractured in a late-night one-punch assault on Union Lane in Newcastle.

He spent almost a week in the intensive care unit at John Hunter Hospital and went for a final assessment at the nearby Rankin Park Centre on Monday. He still has no memory of the incident or the following two to three days as a major bleed at the front of his brain left him in a critical condition.

The assault came just over two years since he was put into an induced coma at the Mater Hospital after a catastrophic respiratory failure from a bout of pneumonia, only a few days following his arrival in Newcastle to join the Jets Youth squad. 

Like in 2016, Cameron’s parents, Shayne and Robyn, and sister, Brooke, rushed to Newcastle to be with him after the latest life-threatening moment. 

“We got the 2am flight the next morning. We booked the flight then just sat their numb waiting for the time to pass,” Shayne said. “They just told us he was in a very serious condition and the blood just drains out of you when you hear that.

“The scariest moment was when we had the police coming towards us while we waited. We’d known about what had happened for about an hour and a half and I was thinking that they were coming with a message. I just went into panic overload.”

After the second terrifying ordeal, Shayne said the message from his family was “to get him home”, but Cameron was determined to stay and further his football career.

“I love living here and doing my own thing,” Cameron said. “For me, it’s just about recovery now and getting back onto the field as soon as possible, without causing more injury.

”It took a while [last time] and I think I might have come back too early. It probably took me a year to feel normal again, it was a long recovery. Hopefully this one won’t be as long.

“But I still love [football], that’s it. I still want to keep going, keep pushing.”

Cameron’s condition has gradually improved and he left hospital for the first time over the weekend, watching his Roosters play on Sunday in the Northern NSW NPL.

“Yesterday I felt more alive for a longer period of time,” he said.

Helping his recovery was the gift of a signed jersey on Monday from the Newcastle Jets and Men Of Football, which is an organisation helping those in the game in need.

“I really appreciate all the support from everyone, Men Of Football and my team as well, the coaching staff,” Cameron said. “It’s been amazing.”

Bill Pryce, vice president of the Hunter chapter of Men Of Football, thanked the Jets for signing the jersey on Friday, the day before their grand final loss to Melbourne Victory.