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MV Greenpeace / PC 8023
May 25, 1996
Noon Pos: 22.56'S 152.06'E
Day 10
Events took on an unexpected turn of events when our ship’s cook Linda was taken ill. Yesterday evening while eating dinner, Linda was telling a few of
us about sharp pains she had been experiencing most of the day in
the side of her belly and asked what apendicitis symptoms were.
Of course, we all had a story to tell and our own personal
medical opinions to give on the subject, coming to the reassuring
conclusion that she didn't have appendicitis.
But as the night wore on the pain got worse and by the early
hours of this morning, Bora our doctor was giving treatment and
all day assesing the situation.
There is only so much that can be done in a medical situation at
sea. A diagnosis is even more difficult to confirm, without the
techology that is available to help on shore.
At 1600hrs Bora made telephone contact Via INMARSAT medical
assistance with a Sydney Navy Physician and it was agreed it would
be safest to get Lynda ashore,so at 1630hrs we altered our course
west towards Gladstone, in Queensland, Australia. A decision had to be made quickly as within a few more hours the Great Barrier Reef would be between us and the
mainland.
Unfortunately, Lyndas' illness also effects the crossing of the
equater as this involves those who've crossed it dressing as
pirates, King Neptune etc... and giving a initiation ceremony for
those who haven't. Lynda was to be our only victim.
I wonder.........is there a connection.
Tanya Popp
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