A grey nomad – and his dog – had a lucky escape after their small motorhome plunged down a steep escarpment in the Northern Territory.
The 60-year-old man from New South Wales had stopped to take a photo of the sunset at a lookout near Timber Creek when the drama unfolded.
Watch Commander Louise Jorgensen told the Northern Territory News that the man left the dog inside the motorhome with the motor running.
“His dog was inside and he just walked away from the motorhome, about 10 metres, to take the photos,” she said. “Unfortunately, the only photos he got were of his motorhome careering down the escarpment.”
Apparently, the man was under the mistaken impression that he had left his handbrake on.
The motorhome came to rest about 100 metres down the escarpment when the land flattened out and it collided with a small tree. The shaken grey nomad climbed down the escarpment to rescue his even more shaken – but – uninjured pet. The pair clambered back up the escarpment and hitch-hiked to Timber Creek.
The vehicle was slightly damaged and had to be towed out of the area.
Have you ever had a ‘handbrake-off’ scare nightmare? What’s your closest brush with disaster while travelling. Comment below.
In a situation like that when you’re eager to get a shot of a sunset before it disappears, it’s easy to become absent minded about everything else. Luckily, I’m a checker… check, check, check and double check. Anyway, the bloke was lucky his rig was only slightly damaged, and his dog only shaken. He’ll be more careful next time.
shaken,……not stired, to coin a phrase. lucky it didn’t roll.
Looks like a nice free camping spot?
Guess your dog needs a few more driving lessons. A low-cost reminder really, had a couple those myself and I daresay many others have too. Keep enjoying those sunsets, just turn the car off and secure it so you can watch sunrise too!
Excellent advice Marianna!