Marguerita outside her van after the accident, and the X-ray that revealed the extent of the break.
Grey nomads know that life on the road doesn’t come without risks. There is always the possibility of an accident on the road, or the onset of ill health, or unexpected mechanical failures.
Travellers can at least make contingency plans for these worst case scenarios, but what they can’t legislate for are those silly, freakish million-to-one moments that can throw the best laid plans into chaos and leave Big Lap dreams in tatters.
Keith and Marguerita C bought their first ever caravan last November and, before setting off on ‘the big one’, took a few short trips to familiarise themselves with the van and with towing.
As their confidence grew, they headed off on a four-week trip with friends, and all was going brilliantly as they stopped at a beachfront grass site at Rollingstone Big4 in far north Queensland.
It was the third day of the big trip and Marguerita says, having settled in, she was planning to pamper herself by taking a hot shower, shampooing her hair, and doing her nails before taking a relaxing swim.
However, what started out as an idyllic day ended up being anything but.
“I was heading into the van with the washing and, for some reason, turned to say something to our friends and my foot slipped between the van and the pull-out step,” said Marguerita. “I knew I was in big trouble before I hit the ground … everyone heard the sound as my Humerus bone broke in half!”
Instead of enjoying a shampoo and a swim, Marguerita laid in agony for 55 minutes while an ambulance came from Townsville. She was administered pain relief to allow the paramedics to move her arm in towards her body so that she could be transferred to Townsville General Hospital.
While she has nothing but praise for the emergency staff, Marguerita says having broken bones manipulated into place not once but twice due to her shoulder dropping at the end of the first procedure was ‘unbelievably painful’. At one stage it was so bad she blacked out.
After being discharged, Marguerita and Keith moved their van into Townsville so they could be close to the hospital for follow-up appointments.
Marguerita says her husband has been amazing.
“With no use of my right arm and, any movement of my left arm hurting my sore arm, he had to help me with everything,” she said. “When I became upset and frustrated he was so supportive and positive.”
The couple’s daughter, Anne-Mari, also flew up from Sydney and rented a unit in the caravan park. Their son was to do the same the following week, but Marguerita was determined to get home as soon as physically possible.
“I was definitely feeling the love, though,” she said.
Now back at home and on the slow road to recovery, Marguerita remains philosophical.
“The moral of the story is ‘be careful, don’t take life for granted and let each other and your family know how much you love them’,” she said. “You never know what is going to happen!”
Marguerita’s arm will require intensive physio and it could be 12 months before it regains full strength.
So, is the Big Lap dream over?
“I have been reluctant to continue caravanning in the future,” said Marguerita. “Although my family tell me not to make any decisions while feeling emotional … and that’s probably good advice.”
