It’s been a busy few weeks here what with carnivals, boat boot sales, boaty bits (varnishing, making mozzy nets etc), and being entertained.
Over the past three months I’ve been on my own and had to rely on my own initiative to join in activity’s. That has been surprisingly easy as people here are so friendly, it’s a tight community but they are all embracing to the odd newbie. Even though I’m a 'single woman' and in normal life we breed are often steered clear of, here it’s the opposite. I don’t have much time to call my own, I'm almost getting to a point where I’m hiding at times for that well earned breathing space.
Three special couples over these three months have adopted me and have been great fun, I’ve really enjoyed spending time with them. So thank you Pam and Keith, Linda and Kevan and Maureen and Mark.
The last two weeks have been a build up to the downhill go cart race. I was invited onto the team to do the paint job and graphics. Of course it had to stand out but also I wanted an amusing theme. It was a unanimous vote to paint two nudes on the side which looked like the driver and co driver were naked inside the cart.
The races started three years ago and Kevan and Maureen had gotten second place on each occasion, this year Mark was determined the team had to win so some modifications were made. Mark, Maureen’s husband did the welding with help from Neil, Kevan and Maureen were the driving team and Kevan’s wife Linda gave moral support while I did the art work.
On the day weather wise, was spot on and as we took the cart to the venue spirits were high. There were carts of all shapes and sizes and the atmosphere was great. A few timed runs put as level footing with another cart so the last race was crucial. T
he run is approx 2 mins and they travel at about 75 kmpm so it’s pretty fast in a homemade cart. Linda and I stood near the finish line for some good pics and as Kevan and Linda approached they were in front and held that position over the line. What a great feeling for everyone, they had won first place and as Mark was determined we should win first place, we all felt pleased for him most of all however, there was a terrible twist to the end of what started out as lots of fun.
We heard there had been an accident and a bad one. One of the karts had taken a corner badly and flipped over injuring the driver then, a few seconds later we heard another accident had occurred on the start line and Mark was involved.
Maureen was taken up to the start line and not long after we heard it was not good. It transpires that Mark fell and was run over by a cart and sustained horrific injuries.
I wasn’t sure whether I was going to write this but feel I have too so I can move on with my blog. Mark is paralysed from the chest down and the whole community here is in shock. It’s been a week now and he’s undergone surgery to try stabalise his mobility and keep his hands and arms from being paralised as he has no movement from the chest down, it’s been touch and go.
He’s still not out of the woods and complications have hindered his recovery, he’s been on life support as his breathing stop when he sleeps. Maureen and Mark are live boards, this is their life and now it will have to change, we are all devastated. Our love, support and prayers go out to them and if you want to share in those with us please do.
I started this a few weeks ago and the update on Mark is, he’s now back in the UK and with the language barrier gone he’s a lot happier, therapy has also started. They hope to have him breathing unaided soon and although there isn’t much change in his movement he’s back home and things are moving on.
Maureen came to the marina for an evening before they left for the UK via air ambulance, she had a few hours of respite where we saw the old Maureen, laughing and joking. I’m glad we could take her away for a while and drop her into some sort of normality albeit few just a few hours.
The other young man whose kart overturned on one of the bends lost his fight for life and passed away last week. Our hearts go out to his family too, he was just 24 years old.
Hi Susie,
I am so sorry about the accidents - I have heard about them but didn't realize that you were so close. It is very sad, indeed. By the way, do you know the other young man's name? I keep hearing about him but no one seems to know who he was and what happened to him, how he got hurt. Life is so precious.
Barbara
Posted by: Barbara Molin | April 19, 2011 at 06:57 PM