Have you ever watched "The 4 Weddings and A Funeral" (Hugh Grant)?
I guessed, coming to Perth to attend one of my niece's wedding on 7/5/17, shortly only after my FIL's funeral on 28/4/17 was something that was kind of unplanned for in the first place. Due to the failing health of my FIL, my hubby John and I dared not make any promise to attend this wedding - everything was 'play by ear' basis. Well, I had my own share of 1 Wedding and 2 Deaths in just a month!
Since my FIL passed on peacefully on 24/4/17, we decided to proceed to Perth. And to me, this trip will continue to remain in my mind for many years to come!
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THE ADVENTURE BEGINS
As usual, I decided to borrow some 5 books from
the national library for this tripHaving been to Albany just last Sep 16, we decided to ferry to Rottness Island (after the wedding) this time, booking all the accommodation just a week before we departed from S'pore.
AFTER A LONG BIKING ON 10/5/2017 THU AROUND 2PM....
We started to cycle from our Hotel Rottness, Near Thomson Bay at about 9:30am. Rottness is not a very big island and is only about 11km long and 5km wide. It is the home to about 12,000 quokkas ( a cross breed of the kangaroo and a rat - looked like a BIG RAT!)
Having cycled almost past 22km, we were almost back to the hotel. It was at this juncture that we arrived at a beach called The Basin. This was one of the few beaches that had the changing room facilities. It was almost 2pm and after some hesitation of whether or not to change into my swim gear, John encouraged me to do so as we still had some time before having to return the bike.
A MOMENTARY CHAT WITH A COUPLE
There were no one at the beach initially. Just John and I. Then came along a couple in there 60s called N & K. N shared with me how he and his wife loved to swim in this Basin during summer time (but now it is autumn). He even advised me not to go beyond the rocks as there were sharks! John happened to be playing with his drone and 4 of us were captured in a rare memorable photo of our life time!
I decided to walk back to wash my feet and put back my shoes. And both N&K went into the seawaters for their swim.
MOMENTS ALIVE AND MOMENTS GONE!
All in moments, suddenly from the sea beyond, we heard N cried out "HELP! HELP HELP!" John immediately shouted to a passer by for assistance. And this gentleman, called Ron, without hesitation - dived into the seawaters to get N!
John frantically dialled 995 & 999 without success. Thanks to another passer-by who asked him to try 000- and it worked! In the meantime, there was a Japanese couple who ran down and threw the life buoy into the waters. I took off my teeshirt and joined K in trying to throw the buoy to the 2 men in the sea!
Ron managed to pulled N ashore. However, by the time he reached us, his face was already facing downwards. We turned him to face the sky, and the waves came upon his face. the 3 of us tried our best to haul him up to the beach. Thankfully, a ranger came by and with his another strong pair of arms, we managed to haul him up to a drier spot nearer to the rocks. N was already unconscious. And I remembered asking if the ranger could do any CPR. He answered he was a little rusty but nevertheless he proceeded.
John came by with the mobile and was connected to the emergency person on the other side with instructions on how to do the CPR when his mobile suddenly had a reset and auto switch off! Oh My!
But thanks to the fast emergency response! The ambulance came very soon when the ranger was just in his less than 30 odd CPR pumps! And the professionals took over the resuscitation!
The area near the rocks where N was laid for the CPR
Above; Bald headed Ron - The HERO who dived into the sea to rescue N!
Above: The overview of the distance when N was found after the drift from his original position. The waves were rather strong and the black patch were rocks in the seabed. That was how my right feet got the cuts (got a tentanus jab back in Spore the next day) It was not easy for K and I to try to walk further out to the sea to try to throw the buoy to the men as the waves kept on coming:(
A MOMENT IN PRAYER....
As the medical team did their best, another elderly couple stopped by. They came as they heard and saw the helicopter flew by. They were believers. The hubby went to scene to check if further assistance was required, while on the spot, I held to the wife's hands and both of us prayed aloud for both N,K and the medics "Lord, a breath of life please." Our hearts went out especially to K who was all the time by the husband side as a helpless onlooker. As minutes ticked on, we realised that the resuscitation was futile. The medical team finally called it off.
Much as we like to go down to have a word with K, we also realised that it could be too overwhelming and there was nothing we could do by then. All of us decided to leave the place with a much sadden heart at about 3pm past.
The above tragedy was immediately report in PerthNews by evening that day.
Some moments of reflections for me ......
1. CHASING MOMENTS?
- What are the odds of starting to read this book "Chasing Moments " by Ed Malone of all the 5 books which I borrowed from the library?
- What is the probability of finishing reading this book the nite before the actual physical moment of encountering this surreal drowning experience moment of my life the next day? ( I have never been in the real life of having to pull out a drowning man from the sea and watching CPR live in action!)
There is quote in this book which says " IF YOU SURRENDER YOUR MOMENTS TO HIM. YOU WILL SEE THE MOMENTS YOU WERE CHASING HAVE COME TO YOU"! Indeed, how true it can be!
My moments at Cape Valgminh and the Sunrise and Sunset in front of Hotel Rottness
2. EXPERIENCING JESUS?
Guess, you bet i did indeed!
This was the other book called "EXPERIENCING JESUS" compiled by James Stuart Bell of modern day stories of His supernatural Presence and Power- which I finally finished reading on the plane back to S'pore. Below , taken outside the hotel room in the courtyard at Rottness Hotel.
HEB 3 :1-2 "THEREFORE, HOLY BROTHERS, WHO SHARE IN THE HEAVENLY CALLING, FIX YOUR THOUGHTS ON JESUS, THE APOSTLE AND HIGH PRIEST WHOM WE CONFESS. HE WAS FAITHFUL TO THE ONE WHO APPOINTED HIM"
FINAL THOUGHTS....
I am humbled by this entire surreal experience.
I am awed of His moments of showing me His Presence.
Will I live life or simply exist? Life is so fleeting indeed.
Imagine seeing Jesus face-to-face.
Jesus uses moments like this to make Himself known to me on 10/5/17.
Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. Through this unique moment in a place and time at Rottness, far away from little Red Dot, yet He loves me just too much to reveal Himself to me in such a unique and special moment.
So indeed, as we yearn and long more of Jesus, I pray that " If you surrender your moments to Him, you will definitely see the moments you were chasing have come to you"
CHASE JESUS. EXPERIENCE HIM.
PRACTICAL TIPS:
1. LEARN CPR !
2. LEARN ALL THE EMERGENCY NUMBERS IN THE COUNTRIES YOU ARE VISITING !
3. NEVER SWIM IN WATERS WHERE THERE ARE WAVES. NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE UNDERCURRENTS AND THE RIP TIDES
HEB 3:7-8 "SO, AS THE HOLY SPIRIT SAYS 'TODAY, IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS YOU DID IN REBELLION'
N as I saw him. Merely moments he was alive and well chatting with me. In just minutes of moments, as the turn of our backs to each other, he was dead. Despite the rather quick action of bystanders whom we happened to be on site, he was unable to be revived after his few frantic calls for help. Such is how fleeting our lives can be.
If you are often testing the Lord and you know your heart is going astray and know not His ways, Heb 3:11 says "So I declared on oath in my anger, They shall never enter my rest"
Heb 3:12 "See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turned away from the living God."
Heb3:13 "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness"
Won't you open your heart to the Saviour of your soul, the giver of your breath of life?
Let Today be this day. We may never know when we will be called away from this earthly pilgrimage. Like Ron, who would have expected that his life was shortened in just moments? There was no time to bid GOODBYE even from his beloved wife.
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This is post Rottness. On 29/7/2017, I finally learnt CPR!
This is post Rottness. On 29/7/2017, I finally learnt CPR!
Every death is a prelude to a second to our appointed time with God.
ReplyDeleteMost importantly, be prepared :Hebrews 9:27.
Good tt as believers we have no hang ups with deaths n funerals. Dying is the end of living. It comes as a package . Thz Mui