Simon & Natalie ‘THE DAY OUR WORLD MELTED'

Never more sure about what matters most, the National Party stalwart opens up about the frightening event that shocked him into quitting politics

- Marilynn McLachlan

When Simon Bridges announced his retirement from politics last week, there was one thing he didn't share with the nation – the heart-stopping drama involving his eight-year-old son Harry that changed the course of his life forever.

The former Leader of the Opposition looked decidedly relaxed as he told reporters he was leaving politics to spend more time with his family, saying he'd spent many hours discussing the decision with his wife Natalie.

But behind his self-assured demeanour, the recent trauma of almost losing his precious son was almost too difficult to bear.

It was on December 2 last year that Simon, 45, and Natalie, 39, were told their then seven-year-old son Harry had been hit by a swing in the school playground.

"He was just running past and it hit him in the liver," recalls Natalie. “He had the second-to-highest grade liver injury. It was almost destroyed."

Thankfully, Simon was in Tauranga that fateful day. Usually, he is in Wellington during the week, but he was set to pick up new National Party leader Christopher Luxon from the airport to drive to a fruit and vege shop, where he was to be announced as the new Finance Spokesman for the Opposition. But those plans were quickly aborted.

“I got a call from the school and obviously it was fortunate Simon was here because I'm useless in situations of emergency involving the children," Natalie explains. “I just completely lose the ability to think and function properly. He went straight to the school and I was closer to the hospital, so I met them there. Your whole world just melts. Nothing else really matters."

With his son "white as a sheet" but still "somewhat” able to talk, it took some time before Simon realised the severity of Harry's injury.