Shane Christie sustained multiple head injuries playing rugby. In death, he is still fighting for change

Shane Christie reacts following his game for the Tasman Makos in Nelson Photograph: Alden Williams/AP

First came the headaches, a feeling of pressure in the head. Then, Shane Christie started experiencing macabre hallucinations of his own death. Later, the once sociable New Zealand rugby player started getting into arguments with loved ones and towards the end paranoia consumed his trust, making him fearful and depressed.

By the time Christie took his own life aged 39 in August – some 10 years after he first started experiencing the headaches – he was almost unrecognisable to those closest to him.