It wasn’t meant to end like this



 
We had a nice meal with my Dutch friend last night and we got chatting to some more visitors to Sifnos. I decided on our last day together to go to Vathi and walk the other way, that is to the left when you reach the beach. It was a bit windy and Ronnie did not seem over keen on going into the sea. Where the beach ends a coastal path goes up to the next two small coves. The path wasn’t bad and Ronnie wasn’t pulling. The next thing I knew was I was on the ground in pain. 

I looked at my left leg there was no bone sticking out, but if I gently lifted it, there was excruciating pain. I had broken it. I made sure Ronnie was safe and we both had water. I can only think a loose flag caused me to look se my footing.I then rang the emergency number and eventually persuaded them I was going nowhere on my own but they did not seem able to use my exact location I had taken off Google maps. I then decided to get Ronnie rescued and gave one of our friends the coordinates so he could try and get to us. Then two people turned up,  local and an American visitor. She and her husband who turned up later, were amazing. She kept me calm and he went looking for the ambulance folks who were nearby I was told. My friend appeared to rescue Ronnie.


I was then examined and the crew confirmed my diagnosis. I was then put in one of those mountain rescue stretchers and carried to the ambulance. It’s the worse pain I have ever felt. I discovered that if I used my good right foot I could stop the dangling left food wobbling so much. I got to the hospital, had an X ray, yes. It was broken and I was to be evacuated by the Coastguard. The Coastguard vessel was quite small and it was pitching about on the sea. At Syros I was met by another ambulance crew who took me to the hospital. 


At the moment after more X rays and questions, I am lying on a bed in a ward. I haven’t been able to eat or drink but I am on a drip. Now the leg is in a temporary plaster it’s not painful so I don’t need painkillers. I await my fate, it’s not clear if they will operate or what happens next!


The medical teams have been amazing, as have my friends, I think what ever they do I will be out of action for up to six weeks not sure if my recovery will take place in Greece or the UK. This was to be the last post for a while, once I know more I will write one more up. One lucky guy. Thanks to everyone. Next time I go to Sifnos I will go and see those people and thank them with my gratitude.


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