Big news.
I may have mentioned that i wasn´t going on the hike that the rest of the uni students were going on - quite lucky that. They came back last night....
People walked in soaked and crying, having been up all night in make-shift shelters treating some very severe cases of hypothermia.
From the beginning... Our group of 11 went on a hike with approximately 150 uni students who had to complete this hike as part of an assesment. The hike was two hours away from where we are staying and the weather conditions were completely different. Apparently the uni students came in platform thongs and miniskirts and things like that - this was the main cause of the problem.
It was already raining and freezing cold when they got off the bus at about 12pm. Things didn´t get much better. The hike was extremely difficult and people just weren´t equipped to do it. I´ve been told it was about 7 when the first case of hypothermia occured, which happened to be a pregnant student from the university. The groups splintered, and while most of the uni students went on the campsite and got pissed. Our whole group was left behind treating multiple cases of hypothermia, 2 of which were people from our group. Also, a couple of guys from the red cross came down with pretty bad cases.
From what i gather it was madness, clothes were being dispensed to the hypothermic cases leaving everybody else in their underwear, huddled together inside a shelter made from 1 tarp and a couple of sleeping bags. The rain didn´t relent and everyone was absolutely soaked. Apparently, the blame for the situation fell mostly with the teachers from the uni who had failed to impress upon people the conditions they would be facing. Also, the out of the patients and 150 students no one said thankyou. This was the main reason for everyone being so upset when they got back.
This is about as much as i know at the moment. It literally was a life and death situation. Everyone is recovering today, lying around in bed. Their spirits are much better and there will be a debriefing for them to talk about it today. I forgot to mention that everyone in our group is fine apart from some sleep deprevation, a rolled ankle and some sniffles.
How´s my luck? Instead of going on the hike (because of the foot which is now about 96% healed) i went around to these girls house, watched a movie, had a massive dinner cooked for me and went fishing with heaps of locals, then stopped off for a beer on the way home - i had an absolutely fantastic night laughing at the language barrier, looking at the stars and catching tincy wincy fish.
Anyway, such is life. I´ll spend the next couple of days taking care of everyone in the lead up to Christmas. Also, i´ll have to slot back into the group after they´ve had such an intense bonding experience. I started this process last night when i went and got them all lollies and cooked them dinner. Should be right in a couple of days.
Merry Christmas guys. Have a SAFE and happy one.
I´ll try and call when i can.
Lots of love. from lucky Jules. The luckiest man alive.
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