A Walk Gone Wrong

A true story by Kathie M. Thomas

It was a dull grey Monday morning 12th December but I still chose to go out for a walk. I usually do to get my regular exercise and hope to see new things for my camera.  I chose to visit a park I'd not been to before. I'd only just learnt about it two days prior at the local market where I held a stall to sell my photography items.  Think that was my first mistake. Mind you, it had been raining on the weekend but the tracks didn't look soaked to me and I stayed off tracks that weren't visible due to overgrowth. Only the big wide tracks like the firetrack at the top, a road down the side and another track that sloped slightly downhill but was wide – looked newly slashed.  That was the next mistake. Walking down that path.  I now know that there was dirt covering a large smooth rock near where the grass ended, but I didn't know till I slipped on it…

As soon as my left foot slipped underneath me I heard the crack and felt the snap.  I yelled out to no-one in particular, as I was on my own, “oh no, I've broken my leg!”  I went down and tried to brace myself on my elbow but as my left heel tried to touch the ground to rest, pain shot through my left leg and I knew I could not do that again.

I don't know which order things happened in – did I get my phone out of my pocket first or did I brace my leg with my arm? I suspect the phone first.  I hung my left arm under my hamstring to brace my left leg in the air and then rang 000. Or tried to.  I could make my hands meet so I could use the phone but not sure if it was my third or fourth attempt before I actually got my fingers working to make the call. I was shaking badly and knew I was in shock.  I was relieved to hear a voice answer quickly and I asked for the ambulance operator.  I was switched through to Andrea and she stayed on the phone with me for the next half hour or so, till the Ambos had arrived.

I spoke and cried to Andrea often during that time and if her voice went quiet I'd call out for her and she'd assure me she was there and not leaving me.  I'm sure I rambled in my fear and pain. She asked me questions about my condition and where I was. I got frustrated because I felt like I'd described where I was three or four times but perhaps I was slurry and not very clear, I don't know.  I told her my mouth was dry and I was shaking, I had water with me but thought perhaps I shouldn't and she told me I was in shock and not to take a drink.  Andrea assured me the Ambos were on their way even though I often said “I can't hear the siren”.

I knew the track I was on didn't show up in the directory or GPS and I was going to have to talk them in, via Andrea. It was important I remained conscious, even though I felt light-headed and panicky and in oh so much pain.

Want to read the rest of the story? Click here. Photos included.

I hope you have a great month!

Kathie