DANGEROUS PLACES (Advanced) (LESSON A12L13)

DISUSSION POINT

Roads, waterways, sport pitches and battlefields; they're dangerous places.

The mistake of a driver, the intensity of conflict, uncertainty amidst the unknown - these can all lead to tragedy, but sometimes people rise above and survive when all seems lost. Sometimes something unexplainable happens.

Have you ever had a lucky escape? 

SOAKING, SCARED AND WAITING TO DIE By Gerard O’Neil

It had been raining most of the day and the wind had been blowing strongly making the sea rough, but we were well within the safety margins for a fishing trawler of our size fishing 80 miles off the  coast. As far as the weather forecast was concerned, nothing out of the ordinary was expected. In fact, conditions we predicted to improve.

When the crew and I went on deck to prepare some equipment I saw the skipper way up on the bridge scanning the western horizon with a pair of binoculars. Almost immediately, he gave the order to haul in the net.

We rushed to our positions and began the long process of bringing our gear to the surface. Looking to the west, I saw what had upset the skipper. A set of dark squall clouds was rapidly bearing down on us.

We had managed to haul in about half of our cable when the squall hit. The wind reached gale force, but no one was unduly worried as we presumed like other squalls this one would pass quickly. It did not! In fact, the wind increased even more.

Waves began to break on board but were quickly expelled through the scuppers. Then a particularly violent gust hit and to my surprise, something crashed onto the deck beside me. It was a plank from our trawl derrick catwalk high above the stern of the boat. I was just in time to see other planks being peeled off by the wind. The deck master sent me up to secure those that remained.

I rapidly completed my task high up on the derrick and for a moment stood contemplating the scene before me. Our boat was like a tiny speck in a huge, swelling cauldron of flying water and                                                           spray.

Back on deck, the situation was beginning to get serious. The winches could no longer keep up a constant strain on the cables. As we climbed each wave, they would shriek in protest and then just before they stalled the winch master would ride the clutch. Going down the other side of the wave, they would make a spinning sound as the pressure went off.

After 40 minutes, the net finally broke the surface. Now we faced another problem. How to haul it on board in the huge seas?

We managed to get it part way up the stern rap but its weight caused us to ship a lot of water. Even though there was a safety door in the net, part way down, which in an emergency can be opened to spill some of the fish, in the sea that was running, it was too dangerous to climb down to open it.

Waiting for the help of a big wave, the winch master managed to drag the net on board.

The hold was opened, and all hands began throwing fish below as fast as possible (not an easy task on a violently rolling boat). 

Once the space directly below the hatch was full, five of us went into the hold to begin the process transferring the fish to the desired pounds for icing. From the motion of the boat, we all knew that the weight of the catch was making us top heavy and so we were not surprised when the message came that the hatch would be closed and the boat turned to face the waves head-on.

Below we could feel the boat beginning to turn and then all of a sudden there was an almighty thud. Even with the heavy steel hatch cover firmly closed, green seawater began to pour below. At first, I was fascinated! It then occurred to me that for this to happen we must be underwater and therefore it would be impossible to open the hatch from either side.

As more and more water came cascading below someone said "I think we are sinking! Let's begin counting. If we reach ten it's all over!"

As we slowly counted, I can remember each thought that passed through my mind:

1. This was not the way I had expected to die.

2. The reaction of my friends back at port when we were reported  

                                                          missing.

3. The police officers knocking on my parents' door.

4. The newspaper and TV reports that would last for about a week.

5. That drowning was supposed to be the best way to die as first the brain is starved of oxygen        

     resulting in a "high" moments before death.

6. Steel-hulled trawlers never bob back to the surface and so our bodies would never be recovered.

7. I would not fight the inevitable.

As we reached "eight", I became conscious of the butterflies in my stomach and then realized that they were not butterflies but a nauseating feeling. It was the build-up of panic.

The lights then began flickering and for a brief moment went off. I was shocked. I had expected to die in the light. I had a momentary vision of myself panicking in our cold steel coffin in the dark.

Just as we were about to count "nine", the floor levelled out and then began to slope upward.

The moment we reached the surface our crewmates flung open the hatch and hands reached down to help us out.

Our colleagues were soaking wet. They told us that as we had begun our turn, a huge wave had come on board covering the boat from bow to stern. They found themselves swimming in the open sea and then as the boat began to sink their safety harnesses, which were still attached to the trawler, pulled them underwater.

We did not have time to dwell on our fortunes however as the trawler was still in grave danger so we needed to focus all our attention on lightening her, by throwing fish over the side, fast as possible!

Originally published by Fairfax Media: http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff-nation/assignments/9874292/Have-you-had-a-near-death-experience

COMPREHESION CHECK

(1)    Where and how far off the coast was the trawler fishing.

(2)    What was the weather forecast?

(3)    What is another word for “Skipper”?

(4)    What is a squall?

(5)    Rewrite the following passage in a less descriptive way:

As we climbed each wave, they would shriek in protest and then just before they stalled the winch master would ride the clutch.

(6)    Why couldn’t the safety door in the net be opened?

(7)    Why was the hatch closed?

(8)    Was the author afraid when water began to flood below?

(9)    If the trawler had sunk would the deck crew have survived?

(10) How did the crew lighten the trawler?

Some www.stuff.co.nz reader comments in response to the above article.

Tyga	Crikey! I didn't know whether to yell, scream, hyperventilate or count! What a wild ride you wrote. Felt like I was (almost) there. Gerard, I see a book! A film! Man. I'm off to take care of my palpitating heart!
Irritated	Jesus mate, good read. Glad you're still with us.
Kindsoulkarma	I want to read more!!! I felt like I was on that ship as well - all tensed up waiting to read what was going to happen next, what a great writer!
Mmmm..beer	Wow that man deserves a DB....or maybe a nice beer instead.
Cernunnos	Good read man. Be a writer, not a fisho.
AlienHealer	Now that is a stuff nations article worth reading, thanks.
Denni	Part two please.
Grasschopper	Wow. What a great narrative - scary stuff.

QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE COMMENTS

(1)    Are the commentators enthusiastic about the story?  How can you tell?

(2)    What do the following words and phrases mean?

(a)    Crikey

(b)   Jesus mate

(c)    Wow that man deserves a DB....or maybe a nice beer instead.

(d)   Fisho

(e)   Scary stuff

ANSWERS

COMPREHESION CHECK

(1)    How far off the coast was the trawler fishing.

The trawler was fishing 80 miles of the coast.

(2)    What was the weather forecast?

Nothing out of the ordinary was expected. Conditions were in fact expected to improve.

(3)    What is another word for “Skipper”? 

Captain.

(4)    What is a squall?

A sudden and violent short lived wind often accompanied by rain.

(5)    Rewrite the following passage in a less descriptive way:

As we climbed each wave, they would shriek in protest and then just before they stalled the winch master would ride the clutch.

As we went up each wave they (the winches) would make a noise and then just before they stopped the operator would put the clutch in neutral.

(6)    Why couldn’t the safety door in the net be opened?

Due to sea conditions, it was too dangerous to open it.

(7)    Why was the hatch closed?

To stop water flooding below as the trawler was turned into the waves.

(8)    Was the author afraid when water began to flood below?

Initially not, but when the lights began to flicker yes!

(9)    If the trawler had sunk would the deck crew have survived?

No they would not have survived. They would not have been able to release their safety lines in time and so have been pulled under by the trawler.

(10) How did the crew lighten the trawler?

By throwing fish over the side.

QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE COMMENTS

(1)    Are the commentators enthusiastic about the story?  How can you tell?

Yes. All the comments are short, to the point and positive. They use exclamations such as; “Crikey”, “Jesus mate”, “Wow” and emotional phrases such as “I didn't know whether to yell, scream, hyperventilate or count! What a wild ride you wrote” and “What a great narrative”. They enthusiastically encourage the author to write more! (“Be a writer, not a fisho”, “Part two please”.

(2)    What do the following words and phrases mean?

(a)   Crikey - An Australian exclamation of surprise or bewilderment. Interchangeable  

               with words such as "Blimey" or "Struth".

(b)   Jesus mate – Expression of surprise. (Mate means friend).

(c)    Wow that man deserves a DB....or maybe a nice beer instead. – After reading the article the commentator says he needs a beer to relax. DB is a popular brand of beer in New Zealand, but the commentator jokingly says he prefers another brand.

(d)   Fisho – Slang for fisherman.

(e)    Scary stuff – The article made the commentator feel afraid or they are making the

                      comment  that the situation related was a scary experience for those

                      involved.  (Both possibilities may be correct).

 TO PRINT