The Star: January 10, 2019

The Star Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Thursday January 10 2019 15
News
• By Emily O’Connell
MADDIE COLLINS has
been doing “really well” since
returning home from Starship
Children’s Health in Auckland.
The 15-year-old was in
Starship for more than three
weeks leading up to Christmas to
try and determine what has been
causing a decline in her kidney
function.
Maddie, of West Melton, who
suffers from the kidney disease
nephrotic syndrome, underwent
a successful kidney transplant
last January.
Her mother, Sarah Manson-
Collins, said they flew back
home from Starship on
December 23, just in time for
Christmas. She said Maddie
is doing well and is enjoying
hanging out with friends, jetskiing
and horse riding.
Recent results from a kidney
biopsy showed Maddie is dealing
with kidney rejection. Mrs
Manson-Collins said Maddie has
been taking steroids, along with
other medication, in a bid to
reverse the rejection.
She said Maddie is having
regular blood tests and her
health will continue to be
monitored.
Maddie will undergo further
tests later this month, and the
results will determine whether
HOME: Maddie
Collins is
enjoying being
back in West
Melton after
spending
more than
three weeks
at Starship
Children’s
Health in
Auckland.
Maddie ‘well’ after scare
she will have to go back to
Starship.
Maddie and her family were
told on January 16 last year that
their five-year wait for a kidney
match had been found. They
flew to Auckland the following
day and Maddie underwent
an initial operation and then a
second operation to reposition
the kidney.
Maddie received a kidney
from her father Adam Collins
about six years ago but her body
rejected it. With only a two per
cent chance of finding a donor
match in New Zealand, the
family had not expected to
find another kidney in the
country.
Drone may have
been used to
spy on teens
• By Anan Zaki
A LOW-FLYING drone may
have been used to spy on teenage
girls over the holidays.
It was seen hovering over
Whero Ave, Diamond Harbour.
Anna Clinch, 14, was in a
swimming pool with a teenage
friend when she saw the drone.
She believed it was being used to
spy on them. The incident comes
as concerns over privacy and
safety around the use of drones
is on the increase.
On New Year’s Eve in
Auckland, a helicopter pilot
had to take evasive action after
coming across three drones. On
New Year’s Day, police Eagle
helicopter operations were
temporarily suspended after a
near miss with a drone, also in
Auckland. Last month, flights at
London’s Gatwick Airport were
suspended for three days after a
number of drone sightings.
Anna said the drone was
flying near power lines.
“It just hovered above the pool
while we were swimming for
about 30sec and we were really
concerned about it,” she said.
“We moved out of the way
because we thought it was a bit
bizarre and went inside. And the
drone continued to fly back and
forth over the house a couple of
times [before leaving].”
Anna doesn’t want the drone
operator to get in trouble, but
said they should keep away
from people’s properties. “Just
watch out because it’s kind of
weird that there’s a 14-year-old
in a pool and there’s a drone
hovering over us. We just don’t
want to be spied on in a pool.”
The Civil Aviation Authority
says drone operators must
have consent from the owner
of the property they want to fly
over. Breaches of privacy and
investigations are dealt with by
police.
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