Daniel King was tortured by a brain injury prior to his death after a shootout in Penrith

The family of Daniel King, who was shot dead by police in Penrith in 2019, believe football-related brain damage led to his downward spiral.

He was the infamous heavily-tattooed gym junkie who shot up his ex-lover’s house and two police stations, but to his devastated family Daniel King was a man tortured by a brain injury that still hides in the shadows of society.

Sandra King is convinced her son’s downward spiral from a happy, loyal, sports-obsessed son was the result of brain damage caused by head knocks suffered during eight years of semi-professional rugby league, and five years in amateurs.

His life became a living hell until his behaviour left police in Sydney with no option but to shoot him to protect themselves.

The inquest into Daniel’s death found he was willing police to end his misery – he had several opportunities for “kill shots” and didn't take them, a sign he wasn’t there to hurt or kill anyone, he was there to end his pain.

Associate Professor Michael Buckland, founder of the Australian Sports Brain Bank, who examined Daniel’s brain after his death, is convinced severe chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) was driving Daniels’ behaviour.

Daniel King was shot by police after he went on a shooting rampage.

“There was a good young man still inside there,” Professor Buckland said.

Almost four years on, and still haunted by the tragic events of October 2, 2019, Daniel’s family want the world to know he was not an evil person but a troubled man lacking the capacity to deal with a devastating and so far impenetrable brain disease.

They’re not looking for sympathy but awareness and education. Most of all they want sporting bodies to take seriously the rising incidence of CTE.

“The only reason he did what he did was because of the trauma and pain in his head,” his mum Sandra King told the Sunday Telegraph.

Daniel’s mum and sister Megan King are acutely aware CTE does not only affect the people closest to a sufferer, but has the ability to cause widespread destruction.

Sandra King with her daughter Megan King pictured in Mascot today. Sandra believes that brain damage caused by footy led to his erratic behaviour. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“Daniel’s suffering has been traumatic for not just his friends and family, but the police that day and even more broadly,” Ms King said.

Daniel, 33, was shot 24 times by police outside Penrith police station. His rampage began when he fired a shotgun at the home of an ex-lover, before driving to St Marys police station where he discharged three more shots.

During the final shootout, outside Penrith police station, a shell ricocheted off the back of the police car – it was not actually aimed at a cop – leaving a police officer with “permanent nerve damage and memory issues”.

To try to understand the actions of Mr King, we must first learn about his life as an aspiring first grade rugby league footballer, Sandra believes. By the age of 16, Daniel was selected to play for the Penrith Panthers in an elite under 16 junior rugby league competition.

Daniel King on the night he was shot by police. Picture: 7NEWS

By 22, Daniel was playing for the Windsor Wolves, a prestigious club that has fielded semi-professional teams in the NSW Rugby League competitions. He was dedicated to his training and focused on becoming a professional rugby league player. His team made it to the grand final against the Sydney Bulls and Daniel was playing on the wing.

“At the first kick-off to commence the game Daniel made the first tackle against the opposing prop forward,” his mum recalls.

“They collided and both went flying. The prop was taken from the field with a broken jaw and missing teeth. Daniel was knocked ­unconscious. “

Ms King says Daniel was helped to his feet and allowed to play the rest of the game.

“He later told me that for the entire first half he had to refer to his jersey to determine what team he was playing for,” she said.

In March the next year, in the first game of the new season, the shoulder of an opponent met the then 23 year old Daniel’s neck in a heavy tackle.

“I was watching and could see that the impact had left him drowsy. His legs went weak and the trainers had to assist him from the field,” Ms King said.

Daniel with his cousin Rebecca Olds holding Dior Doherty.

Daniel was a sport-obsessed son.

He was given Panadol for a headache and when his legs could hold him up he was allowed to drive himself home.

“That evening he began to vomit and on the advice of the team doctor, I took him to hospital where he was put under observation for yet again another concussion,” his mum said. “By morning he couldn’t speak, eat or see and appeared not to be present.”

After several days he was given an MRI scan and his family was told he had had a stroke. He was diagnosed with “lateral medullary syndrome”.

“Daniel was unable to communicate, interact or comprehend anything at this point,” his sister said.

Daniel remained in hospital for about three weeks. He was taught how to do basic tasks like write again. He struggled. His mental health declined after he asked his neurosurgeon when he would get better.

“Daniel was told he should think himself lucky, most people would not have survived this type of stroke,” his mum recalled.

Despite rehab progress and hours dedicated in a home gym, Sandra and Megan knew he was suffering enormously.

“His body couldn’t handle heat, he was easily disorientated, his memory suffered, his eyesight was failing and despite his size and appearance, a gust of wind could have knocked him off his feet,” Ms King said.

Daniel King’s brain showed abnormal tau (the brown spots) clustered around little blood vessels. You would normally see no brown at all in a man of his age.

In the months before his death Daniel’s drug intake had increased. He was using cocaine, steroids and antidepressants. He had relationship issues and was often vocal about his battle with depression and desire to end it all.

Associate Professor Buckland, said it was “more likely than not” that Daniel already had the early stages of CTE when he had the stroke.

“As things went on, the CTE would have impaired his ability to cope with all these life challenges. We know that many people with early stages of CTE turn to drugs and alcohol so I would see his drug and alcohol use as a common and expected behaviour pattern for someone with early stages of CTE,” he said.

On the morning he died he sent a message to his ex-girlfriend saying: “I’m sorry for ruining your life, I’m sorry for putting u in this predicament. I hate myself and I hate the demons that constantly torment me. I am a junkie that hides behind a pretend smile, I hate life and I wish I died when I had my stroke.” Daniel later posted a “goodbye” message on Instagram.

Deputy State Coroner Derek Lee found a number of “biological, psychological and social features” contributed to Daniel’s mental functioning and state of mind at the time of his death.”

Daniel with his mother Sandra and sister Megan.

The coroner said Daniel’s CTE was a progressive disorder which also contributed to his behaviour, however found it was not possible to clearly delineate whether any one or more biological, psychological and social factor contributed most significantly to Daniel’s overall mental state.

The people who know Daniel the most though are convinced CTE was the driving factor and the stroke was the point at which his personality and demeanour changed.

“I lost my son long before he chose to end his life,” Mrs King said. “There were glimpses of the joyful, larger than life young man he had been, but his life had become one of pain, suffering and immense frustration.”

She described the “bittersweet” experience when Professor Buckland confirmed Daniel’s CTE diagnosis: “It explained everything … but at the same time it was extremely distressing to learn just how severely he was being ­tormented.”

BAN ALL JUNIOR SPORT TACKLES

THE founder of the Australian Sports Brain Bank has called for the banning of tackles in junior sport to reduce the risk of children developing a degenerative and debilitating brain disease in later years.

Clinical Associate Professor Michael Buckland – the neuropathologist who discovered high amounts of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in the donated brain of late rugby league player and coach Paul Green, and the donated brain of Daniel King – said codes must reduce “cumulative lifetime exposure to repetitive impacts”.

Michael Buckland inside the RPA's Brain Bank in Sydney where he is investigating CTE and contact sports. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“CTE is caused by lots of head impacts, not just half a dozen concussions. Just like lung cancer is not caused by six cigars it's the pack a day for 30 years,” Professor Buckland told the Sunday ­Telegraph.

“The reality is children can’t consent, parents enrol them in footy. If you delay onset, even if you go on to play until 29, but if you don’t start until 14, that’s much better than starting at five.

“Twenty years of exposure to repetitive knocks and you’re getting up there in terms of the dangers of developing CTE.”

Prof Buckland stressed he was not downplaying the issue of ­concussion.

“Whenever we talk about CTE codes come out and say they have good concussion policies, best practice, which they may do, but we already know that’s not the core issue,” he said.

“It’s very important and we have got to better manage concussions but it’s not the same issue as CTE.”

Professor Buckland said there was no way for medical experts to know how widespread the incidence of CTE is in Australia.

“In the cohort of people that play a lot of contact sports we don’t know how common it is and we need to do more research,” he said.

“It’s estimated that at least 15 per cent of professional American football players are affected and there is no reason to believe that would be vastly different for rugby league, union and AFL.”

The Australian Brain Bank needs donations to continue its research into CTE. It also needs people willing to pledge their brain.

Visit www.brainbank.org.au