Events that could have scarred me for life (Most Frightening Moments)

Member Name: yackers1

Product:	Most Frightening Moments
Date:	22/12/08 (164 review reads)
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Whilst I have had many scary experiences in my life there are three that really stick out in my mind. Out of these one was an actual near death experience, one I was very lucky and the other I was fine although I thought my time was up, as follows:

1) Waxham Beach, Norfolk

I can't remember the year but I must have been about twelve or thirteen, so around 1993 - 1994. For those of you that do not know there is a sand bank approximately 200m off Waxham beach, and it is common practice to swim out to the bank.

Whilst I am not, nor have I ever been a really strong swimmer I can get by. I would like to say that this is down to my athletic physique and prowess but it is down to the fact that I float. I never sink, ever. I can't even dive, which is a real disadvantage when I want to go snorkelling.

I remember the day really clearly. Whilst it was warm there was a strong breeze blowing off the coast. Looking back I was being stupid even contemplating the trip out to the sandbank but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

The swim out to the sandbank was really easy and we did it in record time, mainly thanks to the tail wind. It was the swim back where the problems began.

Fighting against the wind and the tide that had decided to turn just at the wrong moment was really hard work. Half way between the sandbank and the beach I ran in to difficulties. The problem is where to head for. I realised I wasn't going to make it and the panic set in. This is the point where you know that something bad is going to happen. As I got more and more tired I became dizzy and nauseous. The sense of panic became overwhelming and I started to gasp for breath. I swallowed some sea water making the situation ten times worse. At this point my legs and arms started flapping about un-controllably and I took on more water. As I went under the water I saw my life flash before my eyes, it was not nice.

The next thing I remember is coughing up sea water and being sick on the beach. I was covered in sand and surrounded by lots of people all staring. My chest hurt, my throat hurt, I was dizzy and felt really weak however, I was alive.

If it weren't for my friend I would not be here today. It was his quick thinking, swimming ability and knowledge of how to revive that enabled me to cheat death.

I am forever in his debt and owe so much to him. At that time I could not show my gratitude and to this day I have never had the opportunity to repay him since he emigrated to Canada when we were sixteen years old. I have tried searching for him on the usual Friends Re-united, Facebook etc but have been unsuccessful to date. Now we are older I would really like to show him my gratitude as well as introduce him to my future wife.

2) Stalham to Walcott Main Road, B1159

This is a situation where, looking back, we were all extremely lucky. There were no serious injuries and no broken bones. Lady Luck was definitely smiling on us during this episode and thank goodness she was.

It was the winter of 1996, the year before I passed my driving test. It was a clear night, the stars were out and it was starting to turn a bit frosty.

My two mates and I had just been to Wayford Bridge pub, a local haunt to go and play pool and waste some money on fruit machines, and decided to go and get some food at the pub I used to work in at Walcott. My mate had recently passed his test so we all jumped in his car and headed off down the road.

Whilst he was driving a little over the speed limit (who didn't when they had just passed their test and experiencing their first real taste of freedom) we weren't going excessively fast since his Mk 2 1.4 Fiesta was not up to the job.

We went over the brow of the hill where Brumstead Church is located and hit a rogue patch of ice. The car went side ways, hit the bank and then rolled a couple of times in to the field. As soon as the car hit the bank everything went in slow motion, the screen came crashing in, the sun roof smashed, mud came in to the vehicle and I recall seeing the car crumpling up before my eyes. It is a surreal situation and really difficult to describe.

The car came to halt and we all just sat there, covered in cuts, bruises and blood. My mate in the back lay there motionless and I thought he was a goner. Luckily the impact had only knocked him out (he always wears a seat belt now) and he soon came round.

This was the time when mobile phones were the size of bricks and only the yuppies had them and could afford them. They were not as readily available as they are today.

Being out in the 'sticks' of Norfolk the nearest house was a good twenty minute walk away so, dazed and confused, we all started the walk. Luckily a car came past after 10 minutes and gave us a lift to the pub we were heading for where we were able to clean up and make the relevant phone calls.

That evening's event is probably the scariest thing that has ever happened to me. Whilst the near death experience at Waxham beach was bad I was only conscious for a couple of minutes before blacking out. I was awake during the whole episode and whilst being in a rolling car is bad enough the worst thing was seeing my mate on the back seat motionless, knowing there was nothing I could do. Being so helpless is the worst feeling.

3) White water rafting, Dalaman River, Turkey

This experience brought back memories from many uears previous that I had tried to forget.

I had always wanted to go white water rafting and during the first holiday I had with my other half I got the opportunity.

The episode at Waxham Beach many years before had given me a healthy respect for water, and whilst I was still not a really confident swimmer I thought that I could get by.

The white water rafting trip was amazing. It really is a rush and something I would highly recommend, and if you can do it in a warm place such as Turkey then so much the better.

We were nearly at the finishing point of the rafting excursion and we were coming up to the last bit of white water. The guide had informed us that it was safe to do this section out of the raft and that it would be more of an exhilarating experience just to jump in the river and enjoy the ride.
We were all wearing life jackets and safety helmets, we had an experienced guide in a raft should things go wrong, and the river did not look as fast flowing as it had been further up the mountain so we followed the other 8 people in the raft and dived in the river. It was relaxing at first and we just went with the current.

The white water section was approaching and I started to get a bit apprehensive. Soon we were in the white water section and bang. I went under the water and got pinned to the bottom by the current. I was bouncing along the river bed and scraping against every rock along the way. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't open my eyes and the memories of my other drowning experience set in. I swallowed a load of Dalaman water (not nice) and started choking. It seemed like an age but it was probably only a few minutes.

The white water subsided, the life jacket did its job and I reached the surface. I was still choking and in shock trying to get over the so-called 'exhilarating' experience. I looked around for my other half and could not see her anywhere. It was then I started to panic. Luckily she was behind me and all was OK.

We reached the get out point and just clung on to a rock to get our breath back. I was physically knackered and trying to get out of the river was really hard work.

Summary: The most frightening things that have ever happened to me.