A grey nomad has been badly injured after slipping while unhitching his caravan in the rain at Daly River in the Northern Territory.
Bernie Machen, 74, was travelling with his wife Dell when the drama unfolded. As Mr Machen slipped and fell, a protruding bolt tore the muscle and veins behind his left knee. The Northern Territory News reports that the grandfather from Queensland lay on the muddy ground clutching his bleeding leg for almost an hour – tended by a caravan park boss and a retired nurse
Medics eventually arrived with a tetanus shot and Mr Machen was taken to the Nauiyu clinic and then flown on to the Royal Darwin Hospital. After undergoing surgery, he was discharged from the hospital late last week but the swollen river meant roads were blocked. He was unable to rejoin his wife at their campsite … and resume their planned fishing adventure … and instead had to find accommodation in the Territory capital.
“I’m lucky Dell put my wallet in my pocket before they flew me up here,” he told the Northen Territory News. I didn’t believe I could be stranded. It has been a scary experience.”
Mr Machen only had the clothes on his back and a pair of thongs when he was flown north. He said so far it wasn’t quite the NT adventure he had imagined.
“But some people have been kind – it’s overwhelming,” Mr Machen told the NT News.
Have you nearly come a cropper – or nearly come a cropper – while unhitching or hitching your van? Has a ‘silly’ mistake ever had a dramatic effect on your travel plans. Comment below.
I came a cropper in Cardwell in July12.Lost balance stepping in a pothole and crashed,falling on my elbow and smashing it.It was a bitumen footpath.My fellow travellers took me to Ingham Hosp. and was told they would send me to Townsville.On day 4 nothing was happening,so I went to Townsville,sent my party on with the camper and took a flight home to Melbourne.My daughter collected me and on the way home stopped at the Austin hosp. where they xrayed,etc. and plastered me up in approx. 2 hrs. Lucky it was the end of our lap when it happened,Just try not to get sick in nth.Old.