At The Crash Site

I had blacked out briefly, rolling around the ground just wishing for my breath to return to normal, it just wasn't coming.

Hubby had said, I'm stopping the next car, we are in the middle of nowhere with no cell phone coverage, we need to get some help. I'm insisting that we don't, my breath will come it's just taking time.

You wouldn't believe it, I just felt so humiliated, how the fuck is this happening AGAIN, I don't want ANYONE to know. I'm never going to hear the end of it..........

We told you not to ride, it's too dangerous!

I just didn't want to hear that and all that that comes with it, but hubby insisted!, "I'm stopping the next vehicle and that's that!

Once again, I had the angles looking out for me, unbelievable really. The first car that stopped, was a couple who had a special needs child (not traveling with them at the time) they offered some help, but there really wasn't much they could do, they stayed with us until the next car stopped.

The next person to stop was a a registered nurse, she was just heading home from her shift, she tried to help me, but all I wanted to do was crawl around the grass, I just couldn't breath, I had a groan going on that to this day, if I make that noise when I am in any kind of pain, my husband begs me not to as it takes him straight to that time.

The next car that stopped was a couple of guys that were returning home from a motor cross ride, they knew where the nearest farm house was and went there to call for an ambulance. This is all happening in a reasonably short period of time, I think, but it felt like forever.

The ambulance was going to be 40 minutes away, and not that I knew it at the time, but those around me were starting to "not panic", but heading in that direction.

The next car to stop, was the dr of the NZ America's Cup team, this reads like a movie doesn't it? but true story, he was great. I was running out of energy, all I wanted to do was close my eyes, he kept talking to me, and wouldn't let me close my eyes for the longest time, but eventually, I just couldn't keep them open them anymore. This man kept talking to me and told me I had to keep making some kind of noise, which I was definitely doing, while still rolling around in the grass. I eventually found myself in a position that I didn't have to crawl around so much, but I still couldn't breath, I was panting and gasping for air, but I was exhausted. The doctor kept telling me the ambulance was coming.

I don't remember a huge amount of what happened once I had landed, this is all from what my husband has told me and bits and pieces I remember. I don't doubt there is still information I don't know.

I do know it was good to have those other people there with us, as they were trying to keep me going, but also comfort and support for hubby.

The ambulance arrived, and Emma, the paramedic was AMAZING!!

She got to site, and she just took control. My husband later told me he felt so relieved once she arrived, she got everyone doing jobs, and her voice was so calm and reassuring.

Hi Rach, my name is Emma, I'm going to look after you ok, I think it went something like that.

I was in and out of awareness.

I do remember Emma telling me she was going to have to cut my top open to get to my chest, something was already up around me so I was covered. I remember saying to her, don't cut my pants, I really like these ones, she laughed and said, I know how expensive they are, I'll do my best to wriggle them off you, but if I need to cut them I'm going to have to.

I cant quite remember what happened from here. Emma had given me some good drugs, but I was still struggling to breath and I was shaking and shivering.

I do know that Emma threw "something" (a piece of equipment) in her ambulance which she wouldn't have normally put in. She looked at it and thew it in thinking she 'MIGHT" need that', and that she was glad she did, I wouldn't have made it.

Emma had done what she could, but we were going to need the chopper and so the Westapac helicopter had been called, but it was fifteen minutes away.

I don't really know the order that all of this happened, and later, I found out, that I had only minutes - if the chopper had been ANY longer than it was, I would not be here today.

The helicopter arrived, obviously got up to speed with what was happening.

I had a collapsed lung, they had to do a lung puncture at the site to help stabilise me.

There was no mucking around, they gave me more medication, did the lung puncture, I was put on the stretcher, strapped up and put into the helicopter.

I remember looking at the paramedic from the chopper and thinking "oh he's the one I've seen on Westpac helicopter rescue....... he's really nice.

Weird what goes through your mind, oh wait for the drugs to kick in later on........ the stories!!

I have to say everyone that was there, that I remember, were all so nice. I had no clue what was going on a lot of the time, but I do remember feeling safe.

There was discussion about which hospital they were going to take me to, Palmerston North or Hastings. Because I had a collapsed lung, it was decided to take me to Hastings hospital because there was only one valley to fly over whereas there were two to go to Palmerston North. A collapsed lung, not being able to breath properly, altitude, not good combinations.

Hubby was left at the site as I flew away. Those that were still there helped to sort my bike to go to the local farmer until it could be picked up. Hubby rode his bike home alone in the dark. :(

I flatlined twice on the way to hospital and was taken straight to theatre.