By J. Brock (SARTMA-TdC)
Rugged and cold Gough Island
(c) J. Brock (SARTMA-TdC)
Even in the South Atlantic it is difficult to hear about news from the other islands. This is especially true on Tristan da Cunha and its dependencies such as Nightingale and Inaccessible islands and Gough Island, which is 200 miles south of Tristan. News of a double drowning and the dramatic rescue of three persons from Gough Island only reached my ears through Monsignor Agreiter one afternoon last week when I stopped by the Priests' House for a cup of tea and a well cherished chat.
His request was that Jimmy Glass, who was probably made very busy by the events on Gough Island should not be contacted for information but that he could tell me some of the details of what happened. Monsignor explained that there was a fishery around Gough Island and than in mid November the fishing trawler Edinburgh was fishing in waters around the island when it was decided to inspect the nets. A zodiac type dinghy with two men was lowered into the water which at the best of times is very rough. On this particular day, it got rough very quickly and, during a sudden squall, the dinghy overturned with the loss of one life. The other crewmember managed to make ashore on Gough Island.
This warranted the fishing trawler to mount a rescue operation, as, aside from a 3 man weather station atop an inaccessible part of the island, there are no facilities to get warm or dry, or to have any food. Another dinghy, this time carrying three persons was launched to rescue the very cold man, who by this time had been on the island for two days.. This rescue also ended in disaster with the loss of a life. The other two men in the boat managed to struggle ashore on Gough Island.
Weather conditions and terrain meant that the best possible rescue would be from helicopter to ship, so the South African Navy got involved. They dispatched a Frigate, SAS Protea, which set off towards Gough Island where, after ten days on the island, the three men were rescued.
Thanks to the auspices the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, who fund the BBC World Service Radio Programme, "Calling the Falklands," Programme producer, Nikita Culhana (NC) (phonetic spelling) managed to call one of the rescued seamen who was aboard SAS Protea on his way back to South Africa.
Said one survivor, "The one we set out to rescue pulled me up on the rocks. I was cold, frightened, I was in shock, and in pain. I had torn ligaments in my ankles and in my left thumb.
NC: You must have been very relieved to see your colleague and equally, he must have been very relieved to see you.
Survivor: We had much in common and we shared our experiences.
NC: How did you survive on the Island for the few days before you were picked up?
Survivor: I ate from a parcel the Captain made up of sweets and oranges. The victim of the first accident had to go two days without being warm or without anything to eat.
NC: It sounds like am immence story of courage. You were eventually rescued, undoubtedly with a great deal of relief. What was that like?
Survivor: When I first saw the SAS Protea it was like Heaven. I shouted "Glory to God. My prayers have been answered."
NC: And, I am sure your family were equally relieved. Whet were their first words after your rescue?
Survivor: I haven't spoken to my family yet because my mother is very old and I don't want to upset her.
Capetown Radio set up the interview.
(100X Transcription Service)
