The second day was an early start. After a big hearty breakfast the group walked for several miles until they reached a huge wooded area. They were to walk through it and at the other end was a river and from there they would be canoeing down the river. The woodland seemed vast and they had to cut through thick vegetation most of the way. Once in a while they would come across a clearing where they would rest and the group leader would give them a little talk; sometimes about the history behind the woodlands or advice on survival should they ever get caught alone in such an area. It reminded Toby of the days he went camping with his Scouts group and the happy memories that went with it.
After several hours of walking, the heat was getting unbearable and his feet were aching. The walking boots felt like he was carrying 10 kgs of lead on each foot. He looked forward to reaching the river and changing into the canoeing clothes. His back bag was also rubbing against his back and his shoulders were burning from the weight. He chewed on the nuts for energy and kept walking with the others. He did not want to hold them up. They all felt the fatigue and it was slowing them down. They could hear water and it was getting closer so they couldn’t be too far away from the river.
Without a warning they came to a clearing and a little further down they could see a wide river. Along the bank were staff from the camp waiting for them. They had prepared food and water on tables. As the group came out of the woods, the staff clapped and congratulated them on arriving on time. As they ate and drank the team leader was giving them instructions of canoeing and the safety procedures to follow. They had a little practice on dry land and when he was satisfied that everybody knew what to do they each lowered the canoe into the water. This part of the exercise was nice and boys were ready for some action. They looked forward to the rapids two miles down the river.
Toby’s canoe was in front of Andrews and they had placed themselves in the middle of the group as they were still novice. Some of the others were well experienced and had been regular attendees of this adventure camp. They knew the drill and offered the others help in building their confidence. Canoeing down the river was very pleasant and Toby’s confidence was building up and he was thoroughly enjoying the experience. Andrew however was not so keen because he was worried about the rapids although he was reassured by the others that they were not strong and that is why the group was going to that section of the river.
Toby would see the rapids from a distance and decided to get closer to the bank and avoid the middle as he was told. Somebody was shouting from the back and as he turned around to who was talking and was he was saying, he felt a lash across his face and before he knew it his canoe had capsized and he was underwater. Everything was dark but that was because his eyes were tightly shut. He was gulping water because he was trying to breath. Fear was gripping him. He did not want to drown. His hands were frantically trying to grab at anything to stop him going down the river and hitting the rapids. He could not find his canoe. His eyes were still tightly shut. He was petrified. As his arms were flying wilding to grab onto anything to stop him going downstream, he felt something pull on his foot, he tried to shake it off. It then grabbed his ankle and squeezed. Again he tried to shake it off. There was no pressure on his ankle now but he felt something on his knee. He was going lower and lower into the water and he was starting to lose consciousness; he needed air and he could not go up above the water. Something strong and heavy was pulling him deeper and deeper. He felt a very strong pull from his helmet and he felt his head was going to be disconnected from his body. He felt nothing.
He came around and found all the group around him. He was on dry land and he was breathing. He was alive but exhausted. When he opened his eyes and saw the sea of faces and the sky and clouds he was relieved. For the first time in years he prayed. He was alive. He looked hard for Andrew’s face. He found him with tears streaming down his face but he was smiling. Toby had an awful taste in his mouth. He was throwing up. Paramedics were treating him and when they realized that he had not broken any bones they helped him to sit up gently.
It was a while before he could get up and walk. He was drained from all energy and shaken. He still needed to know what had happened. Toby was sent home early and Andrew volunteered to go with him. He was more than happy to leave the place where he witnessed the horror of his worse nightmare. Unfortunately what he had feared would happen to him had happened to his best friend.
This was three weeks ago. Two weeks later there was headlines in the national news about a body that was found which had drowned in the same river they were at. The person had been missing for a month and his body was washed up last week. They could not determine the exact time of death and if he had drowned in the river or was dead before he hit the water. Could the squeezing of Toby’s foot be a drowning man’s last ditch at saving himself? Toby wasn’t sure. His eyes were closed tight throughout the experience.