We spent the first day on Aneityum
exploring the village and nearby Mystery Island. The people here live
a very simple life, huts made of traditional coconut leaves and wood
with no electricity and communal facilities. There is a school which
takes children up to 11 when they become borders at large schools in
Port Villa. A simple life consisting of fishing, weaving, gardening
for vegetables and raising pigs and chickens is the norm. Pigs are
very highly prized and marriage dowries are based on pigs which are
raised in cages. The pig tusk is a form of valuable currency between
villages especially if they form a full circle like a bangle.
On the second day the weather changed
and we then had 3 days of heavy rain. We left the yacht to watch the
inter island soccer final which was played on a sloping field with
trees to run around and holes filled with sand. The whole village was
out under umbrellas watching and cheering on their respective teams,
the local side won which was a cause of great excitement. Shortly
afterwards Roger’s skills we called upon. Having walked along the
beach we were about to return to Dreamweaver when an anxious
Frenchman rushed up asking if we were doctors. His brother had fallen
and was now in great pain and having trouble breathing.
Villagers helped to carry Pascal to the
local ‘medical center’ where it became obvious that he had broken
some ribs and quite probably had a pneumothorax. Oh dear we were in a
remote location with little medical equipment and a seriously ill
man! Stephan and his brother had it seemed already cleared customs in
Port Villa and were on route to New Caledonia with a New Zealand crew
member when they called into Aneityum for a rest and a walk. Our
first aid kit didn’t include a chest drain and kit! But his
breathing seemed OK and not cyanosed [we know how accurate the human
eye is!] so we just had to manage his pain. So for the next 24 hours
Anne and I had a patient and out departure was delayed. Morphine and
oxycodone helped the pain but he couldn’t go on an offshore passage
to Noumea. The next 24 hours his brother was in communication with
the French consulate, the travel insurance company, and the French
Army in New Caledonia. Finally the insurance co gave the OK and Le
Armee de L’Air sent a Puma helicopter to rescue him.
Of course by this stage it was dark and
100% cloud and raining hard! The football pitch by the beach with its
slope and trees was readied for their arrival. The only illumination
available was the torches of the 4 yachts, including the Hungarians
who were still at anchor with their Q flag up, and the single light
from the village’s portable generator! The giant helicopter coming
out of the darkness in the rain was quite a sight watched by the
entire village. The rescue team were very professional and I am sure
it helped he was French from Paris! 2 ½ hours later they left for
Noumea. They were intending on putting a chest drain in as the
weather meant they would need to go higher, but changed their mind at
the last moment as the weather outlook was improving.
The story was told in the National
newspaper a few days later, but I am not sure it was the same rescue
as there were very few accurate facts! We haven’t been able to find
out how Pascal is but hoped to soon.
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