A few weeks back…

The helicopter came in from the east, low over the loch, making a beeline for where I stood by the cabin.  I heard it first then could just see movement through the trees then it was close overhead, big and yellow, nosing forward and my mood switched instantly from irritation at the noisy and very physical intrusion to concern.  This was the air ambulance and it was coming in to land just up the hill.  Someone was hurt.  I ran through the likely candidates in that direction, with P’s selfbuild most likely, and I made my way up there as quickly as I could, wondering whether my first aid training would be needed before the paramedics were on the ground.  I arrived as the helicopter was touching down gingerly in the meadow, just beyond the line of poles and cables bringing power to the houses.  There was a cluster of cars on the grass by the track and an ambulance on site.  P’s wife got out of a car, recognised me and waved a hand, it’s okay, she said and went down onto the site.  The rest was hidden by trees and her gesture made clear I wasn’t needed.  I suppressed my peaked curiosity and still not knowing who was hurt went back down the hill.

It was late on a Friday afternoon.  They’d been working on the first floor, putting up the second floor panels, the end of a long day at the end of a week of long days.  P moved quickly onto a board he’d not secured, it slid and tipped.  He fell between the joists, missed some unpleasant metal obstacles on the way and landed three metres down on his concrete, the board followed.  It missed his neck by centimetres. Broken but not dead P was having difficulty breathing, hence the helicopter.  It must grate ever time someone says that he was lucky.  The hospital says he has three months before being able to work properly.  Recently P and his wife rallied friends and neighbours round to help put the wood fibre sarking on the roof and get it wrapped against the weather.  P walked around, one arm in a sling, directing and as far as was possible with one good arm fetching and passing what was needed. I was honoured to be one of those asked to help and spent the last morning of my kids visit helping out.  There is real community here.  On reflection I suppose there was in London too, but it was geographically dispersed, a friend here, a friend there.  No matter whose fault it was I’m thankful the accident didn’t happen on our site and hope I can hold it as a reminder to guide my actions here.

This little chap wasn’t so lucky and the cause of his demise is not clear.  Murder seems unlikely as he hasn’t been eaten and suicide improbable, so I guess it’s misadventure or natural causes.