|
From:TheBahamasWeekly.com Robbin's Nest - Robbin Whachell
What I am about to mention is one particular accident whereupon I was present, and I am pleased to say the victim of this situation is still alive today.
I was heading home from Port Lucaya after being out one Friday or Saturday night after midnight. Heading down Midshipman eastward to my home my friend with me said, “Hey look at that truck in the bush”. Had there not been smoke coming from the truck’s engine, he may not have noticed as it was deep into the woods on the side of the road. “It must have just happened”, I said as I slowed my vehicle.
It is interesting how the body’s adrenaline kicks in. There was nothing to say, we only reacted. I turned my vehicle around and drove back up to the white truck that had hit a tree head on. The front end of the white vehicle had a prominent V-shape into the front engine. We ran up to the truck walking over and onto fallen trees and shrubs to see in the cab of the vehicle.
There was a middle aged man in the truck. He was just laying back upon the seat as if resting. As I came closer I could see that his legs had been pinned under the dash which was now crushed in onto his legs. We started speaking to him and he became quietly alert and mumbled. I asked if he was okay, and he said he was very tired. I knew the body would want to shut down for him and I had to keep him awake.
I opened the door and sat next to him on the seat. I began muttering away about anything and everything to keep him coherent, telling him over and over he would be okay; that we were getting help and we would not leave him. He had no alcohol on his breath and told me he was on his way home from work. He was indeed in his work uniform. He had fallen asleep at the wheel.
While I was busy with him, my friend was calling the police. It took about a half hour for them to arrive. I did not leave this man’s side. After a while he became very uncomfortable and wanted to move, not realizing he could not with his legs pinned. He would go in and out of being very sleepy to being very alert.
I asked him about his family, his life, and we kept the conversation going. When he got very quiet at one point and kept saying he would just rest for awhile I took his hand. I held his hand and kept squeezing it when I felt it may help. I thought that once the police arrived I’d be relieved, and I did get out of the truck for a bit to talk with them when they did. Seeing no one get in the vehicle to comfort this man I resumed my position back next to him with his hand in mine and as I could see his head was getting heavy in exhaustion (an hour had passed) I even held his head up for him at times so he could rest it.
The police told us they were waiting on the ‘Jaws of Life’ to get the truck’s front off his legs. That took another hour…and I remained there with him. By the time the 'Jaws of Life' came he was extremely awake. He was giving the police his address and contact information, and telling me about his family in good detail. These two hours seemed like ten minutes to me.
As the paramedics and ‘Jaws of Life’ finally arrived I knew my time with him was over. There were enough people there to take care of him now. I told him I’d be leaving and he would be great.
As I was about to step away from the truck he said, “Wait! Who are you?”
I smiled at him and said, “My name is Robbin. I just happened to drive by at the right time. I hope to meet you at
So I am still waiting for that beer… I have not heard from this person as we did not exchange contact information. If you know about this man, or maybe you are he reading this now, I’d love to know how you are doing, as I am thinking of you…
Email me at robbin@thebahamasweekly.com
|
