‘Slowly tortured by his brain’: family urges action on head trauma at concussion inquiry

Michael and Kathy Strong told the story of Terry Strong, their father and husband, who suffered from CTE after playing semi-professional rugby for years. Photograph: Blake Sharp-Wiggins/The Guardian

Terry Strong just wanted to put petrol in his car. He stood at the bowser and put the nozzle into the neck of the fuel tank but the pump didn’t start. The service station attendant waved him away when he asked for help. He tried again. It still didn’t work.

Strong’s patience was thin these days. His fuse was short. After a second rebuff – “Just move to another bowser, mate” – Strong, frustrated, got back into the car. But he had forgotten to replace the nozzle. The car accelerated forward, fuel hose still attached, and wrenched the entire bowser out of the ground with a tremendous jolt.