Kiwi arrow shooting victim tells his tale

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Mon, 01 Aug 2011 7:00p.m. EXCLUSIVE

New Zealander Matthew Scheurich

New Zealander Matthew Scheurich

On June 19, New Zealander Matthew Scheurich narrowly survived an extraordinary attack in a remote region of Papua New Guinea.

He was shot by a tribesman who wanted him dead so he could marry his French girlfriend.

Matthew was hit by arrows through his stomach and his right lung pelted with rocks and almost bled to death.

While he has been recovering in hospital - the story has gone around the world. But until now the couple have remained silent.

Matthew decided it was time to do one interview, speaking exclusively with Natasha Utting on his discharge from hospital in Townsville.

Watch the full interview.

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Matthew Scheurich would like to thank Australian Doctors International for helping save his life.

His sister is fundraising for ADI and the Kiunga Hospital in Papua New Guinea. To support her efforts click here.

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Comments

14 Aug 2011 12:13a.m.

Anonymous wrote:

To Melissa: It was not in the Highlands (as opposed to what is said in the interview) and in this part of PNG, men and women do bath together, when they are married. They go in some isolated places to do so and therefore have privacy, as it was the case here. The local customs were aknowledged and respected as it was mainly the object of interest for the couple. It is hard for people to comment without knowing the details of the story, the interview probably does not reflect the entire reality which is neither possible nor desirable anyway on a TV show. However, the main point IS that the agressor was crazy and that you can do nothing against that weither you are in the middle of the jungle in PNG or in the middle of Sydney in Australia...

03 Aug 2011 12:08a.m.

Melissa wrote:

What happened to this young man and his girlfriend was truly terrible, and extremely unusual - I've spent a total of 24 months in PNG so far without mishap. Without wanting to 'blame the victim', though, the couple could have mitigated the risk to themselves by paying closer attention, and giving more respect, to local norms: (1) Men and women don't bathe together. This is regarded as practically pornographic, and depending on what part of the Highlands they were in, potentially hazardous to the man's health. (2) Neither men nor women bathe entirely naked, see above re: pornographic. Men wear shorts and women cover themselves with a long bathing skirt or laplap. (3) Men and women bathe together in groups, not alone. It's very sociable and good fun! And it's also safer, regardless of whether you're a local or a foreigner. Again, I don't hold Matthew or his girlfriend responsible for what happened to them - the guy who attacked them was clearly off his nut and trust me, this will have repercussions for him in his local community (you could help to ensure this by talking to journalists from the National or Post-Courier, or to local church leaders). But I think this incident really underlines the importance for visitors to a place as unpredictable as PNG to take local values and practices very seriously, and not regard themselves as exempt from observing these practices simply because they are foreign.

02 Aug 2011 10:17p.m.

MeriMilneBay wrote:

Maski police, Matthew. Only way to get justice is to do it PNG style: your family demands compensation from your attacker's family. Ask for K50,000 and 100 pigs. Even if you don't get it they'll respect you for demanding it and that bighead idiot who attacked you will be shamed.

02 Aug 2011 10:06p.m.

J. M. Wood wrote:

And the Kiwi doctor who assisted him has just arrived back in NZ for a furlough break before returning to the jungle hospital. All in a crazy day's work for bush doctors.

02 Aug 2011 04:17p.m.

Chris wrote:

Unbelievable TV3. Your use of sound effects, ridiculous re-enactments and atrocious puns really help put this poor dude's suffering into perspective. You should be ashamed! What an awful piece, this is the Fox news of New Zealand.

02 Aug 2011 10:12a.m.

Steve wrote:

Amazing stuff. Great TV - couldn't stop watching. Matthew tells hios story incredibly well.

02 Aug 2011 08:37a.m.

BB wrote:

Thank you for sharing your amazing story with us!!! Stay brave and keep your shorts on while swimming next time! Sweet Harry Potter scar for sure dude!!!! Take care!!!

02 Aug 2011 07:10a.m.

Annon wrote:

I'm pretty sure it was Townsville not Townsend...