Barrier Daily Truth

Lee to make film debut

Wednesday, 22nd February, 2012

FILM STAR: Lee Hermansson with a souvenir from one of his recent trips to South Korea. He will return to the country next month to be filmed for a martial arts documentary.

By Darrin Manuel

He may not yet have the star billing of Jet Li or Jackie Chan, but Lee Hermansson is preparing to make his martial arts film debut.

The Taekwon-Do instructor is set to feature in a Korean documentary that will showcase his life in the sport.

The film will also focus on Mr Hermansson’s road to recovery after suffering a series of injuries on the mine, and the role Taekwon-Do played in his rehabilitation.

Mr Hermansson was caught in an explosion while working on the mine in 1998, an accident he said caused an aneurysm in his brain which went undiagnosed.

He continued working until he was struck in the head by a rock in 2001 and underwent medical examination.

The scans revealed the aneurism and Mr Hermansson underwent brain surgery. However, the operation caused him to have a stroke.

He said he slipped into a coma for four days and when he awoke he was unable to walk or talk.

Two weeks later he developed a blood clot in his lungs, and spent the next three months in hospital recovering from his various injuries.

“I pushed on and kept doing physio. I slowly started getting better and my speech slowly got better,” he said.

He said his most vivid memory was laying incapacitated and watching the footage of hijacked jets crashing into the World Trade Centre after September 11.

Mr Hermansson spent the next six months at Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre in Adelaide before returning home to resume his role as a martial arts instructor.

He attained his 6th Dan black belt and recently travelled to South Korea to train with international Taekwon-Do master Dr Zibby Kruk.

It was during this visit that the idea for the documentary originated, and Mr Hermansson said he is very excited about the project.

“I think it’s great, I’m really looking forward to going back over there next month,” he said.

“The documentary is to show people the even if you get injured, you can still come back from it.

“It’s about the indomitable spirit to keep going, not give in, and stay true to yourself.”

Anyone who has any pictures or movies featuring Lee’s Taekwon-Do or Mr Hermansson are encouraged to contact him on 0409 663 014.

All sports inquiries and results can be directed to Darrin at the BDT by phoning 8087 2354 or via email to: dmanuel@bdtruth.com.au