Spinal board to all aboard

Trip Start Feb 14, 2007
1
23
68
Trip End Ongoing


Loading Map
Map your own trip!
Map Options
Show trip route
Hide lines
shadow

Flag of Australia  ,
Thursday, May 10, 2007

I began to find the situation faintly amusing as I was grappled onto the spinal board due in part to the discussions taking place on how to get me in the back of an ambulance, but due mainly to the request for me to relax and lie still whilst my head was bobbing around in the surf. I was asked questions, but couldn't answer because the water was lapping gently over my ears reducing all communication to a dull hum, and causing me a slight concern that i may end up drowning in front of 6 people all concerned with how to get me safely into the ambulance.

Having been stretchered into the Doctor's surgery discussion then turned to how best to get me off the board and onto the bed. Clearly not built for emergencies of the spinal nature, the Doctor's surgery was similar in size to a phone box, and I imagined the Doctor sat next to a bruised feline, phoning home after her first day at work announcing "nope, there's definately not enough room to swing one in here". With the assistance of a burly surfer bloke and a fairly tasty receptionist, I was rolled off the board and onto the bed, but to my dismay it was the former who assisted in moving my upper body, holding me in a kind of cradling grip saying at one point "It looks like I'm about to give him a pash". I vowed never to injure myself again.

It was determined that the damage was only muscular and that with a bit of assistance  and lots of drugs I could return back to the mainland on the ferry later that afternoon foregoing my hopes of a flying Doctors helicopter ride. Hoping to make an exit more annonymous than my entrance, I hunkered down in the wheelchair provided, only to discover it had a fault. The chair had been abused by a small child resulting in damage that not only prevented it from being pushed forwards, but also caused a loud banging sound, a kind of grown-up spokey dokey effect, when pulled backwards. So there I was being dragged backwards in a wheelchair through the main resort on great Keppel Island past the swimming pool, a loud metallic clanging sound drawing the attention of anyone in a 50ft radius.

Although slightly marred by my wakeboard experience, both Jen and I really loved GKI. For me it was an experience that Fraser island should have been. Wide open empty beaches, great snorkelling, chilled out days in the sun and relaxing 'beer o'clock' in a laid back bar in the evening. Of all the places we've visited up the coast, GKI is right up there in my top 5, possibly in my top 1 in fact, wakeboard and all.
Print this entry Sydney hotels