Easy Accidents

On Wednesday afternoon a family set out for a walk along the beautiful stretch of coastline pictured here. It includes the Singing Sands, beaches which make many in the Caribbean blush with envy. The adults became caught by the rising tide so attempted to make a return to their car along the rough ground at the back. As darkness came their children raised the alarm. Coastguard teams from Kilchoan and Salen searched the ground while a rescue helicopter searched from the air. The 'casualties' were quickly found.

In retrospect, those involved could probably look back and pinpoint the mistakes they made, the things that they should and shouldn't have done which led to the incident. They probably also felt highly embarrassed that they had had to call for help - though the emergency services are always very willing to be called out when people are in distress.

This morning we went for a walk up the slopes of Druim na Gearr Leacainn, the hill at the back of our house. Although it looks a uniform slope, it is cut by steep-sided burns. It rained last night, so the ground was slippery.

As we walked, we discussed what had happened at the Singing Sands, and said how easy it was for things to go suddenly wrong. We even mentioned how such accidents are as likely to happen to experienced hill walkers as to anyone else.

We were exploring this little gorge when the branch of a tree gave way and one of us slipped and fell heavily into the stream. Its bed was filled with large, slime-covered rocks, but their edges were painfully sharp.

We always carry a first aid kit, in which one of the most important items is a thermal blanket in case one of us is hurt and has to lie out on the hills for a protracted period of time. We had left the kit at home. Fortunately, the damage wasn't as bad as it might have been, and we were able to make our way down from the hill.

Accidents happen so easily, but the are made worse by carelessness.

Top photo courtesy of Paul Howes