Leg it: What happens when you fall down a sinkhole

Down, down the rabbit hole, Alice went

No, I am not talking about drugs, I just like Alice in Wonderland. So anyway, I have waited a few days to get my head around this story. But yes, it is true.  I did disappear down a sinkhole. At least my entire left leg did.

Now, I don’t know how this happened. No, I didn’t it see it coming. It’s not a glamorous story.  But maybe a tale of caution. Read the signs. Beware of outer forces trying to steer you away from terrible things.

Curiouser and curiouser said, Alice

I went to the toilet in a bar. No, no, I know what you are thinking. This is a true story. So, the toilets in this bar were outside down a little alleyway. A pretty decrepit looking back alley. See it’s starting to make a little bit more sense.

So off I went, the band inside were playing, loudly. I came out of the toilet, and the next thing I knew my left leg was thigh high trapped in a hole and my right knee had crashed to the ground. And it was agony.

Alice talked to the caterpillar

Following the surreal out-of-body experience for just a moment, where I wondered if I had died or somebody had spiked my drink. The pain set in. The panic set in. Had my leg fallen off?  What in the name of God had happened. I wriggled, and I pulled, I felt, squidge and sludge around my, disappeared leg. Oh god, oh, goddd. I shouted for help. No-one could hear me.

“How long is forever, sometimes just a second.”

As I waited, I felt what I was sure was blood running down. The pain got worse and worse.  There was only one solution. I had to waggle my body around and pull my own leg out.

“She generally gave herself very good advice.  Though she very seldom followed it.”

I can’t describe the pain in my leg. But I will show you a photo or two in just a second. You know, so you can share. Sharing is caring, right? Well, it kind of ripped its way out, literally.  In hindsight, maybe not the best plan. However, I managed to get up (losing my phone in the meantime) and staggered off back through to the bar, leg covered in blood and mush. And somewhat in shock.

“I’m afraid I can’t explain myself, sir. Because I am not myself, you see?”

So now a few days later, still in a lot of pain, I can say the leg is healing okay. I am now very wary when walking about. I miss sensible pavements and toilets placed, inside buildings.  There’s not really a lesson to be learned from this story. I learned proper lessons in Namibia you can read about here later. But – who can ever tell when the ground is actually, literally, going to swallow them up?

But, there is a punchline before the sympathy inducing photos. The name of the pub in Hong Kong?

Ned Kelly’s Last Stand. Yes, yes, I hear ya!

Squeamish people look away now…

Sooooo, always be mindful of your surroundings and exercise caution in unfamiliar or potentially hazardous areas. Especially when one has had a couple of drinks. Trusting your instincts and paying attention to warning signs can help avoid unexpected dangers. Hindsight is of course a wonderful thing. Unforeseen events happen! Yes travellers, beware of the unexpected!

…… like the time we both ended up in a Cambodian hospital on Christmas Day with Dengue Fever