At the end of August, I decided to explore the WW2 ruins on Cramond Island. It's in the Firth of Forth, not far from Edinburgh, and accessible via a causeway at low tide. After completing my exploration, I planned to camp overnight and leave the following lunchtime.
I had photographed most of the defences, and also the ruined farmhouse, by the time I reached the defences on the very north east of the island. There was a part I couldn't find a way into by the obvious route, so I tried a second time, and my left leg fell into a hole, landed on a slab of concrete which was heavily sloped, slid down it and broke.
There was a couple nearby, whom I called out to. I explained that I'd broken my leg. I then dialled 999 and some paramedics were dispatched. Until they were there, the couple kept me company. Later, a lifeboat arrived and I was evacuated to the mainland. (By this time, the tide had come in.)
I was then taken by ambulance to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. The following morning I was operated on, and an intramedullary nail was inserted into my tibia. My fibula was also broken. I remained in hospital for another few days before returning to London on crutches.
I had planned a holiday in Paris with my wife and son, during which I intended to explore La Petite Ceinture and Le Sanatorium d'Aincourt, but I was obviously in no fit state to do any exploring. The physiotherapist at Edinburgh had strongly recommended I hire a wheelchair. My wife arranged that, and I was able to go. I did have a look around Le Musee du Louvre and La Cathedrale de Notre Dame, and went out in the evening to restaurants.
I'm gradually getting better - the tibia has now healed. My wife has been looking after me - her wound care is excellent. An orthopaedic consultant in London is checking my progress. I've been off the painkillers for several weeks now and am down to one crutch. I'm able to work from home.
Looking back, things could have been worse: what if no one was on the island, and there was no mobile phone coverage? It doesn't bear thinking about.
I have a lot of people to thank: the couple on the island for keeping me company - I hope the got off the island before the tide came in - , the paramedics and lifeboat crew, the hospital staff at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and in London, my family, especially my wife, as well as others who helped in various ways.
Because I've been put out of action for almost three months as a result of a serious injury incurred at a site you might not normally think of as dangerous (compared to, say, Twyford Abbey or Cults), and because of the trouble and worry I've caused to others - in particular my family - after an interesting five years I've reluctantly decided to give up urban exploration. I hope you will all understand this.
I'll still drop in here, and I'll post my Cramond Island photos some time soon, along with a small backlog of other explorations.
Take care, guys, and be forewarned about that hole I fell into.
I had photographed most of the defences, and also the ruined farmhouse, by the time I reached the defences on the very north east of the island. There was a part I couldn't find a way into by the obvious route, so I tried a second time, and my left leg fell into a hole, landed on a slab of concrete which was heavily sloped, slid down it and broke.
There was a couple nearby, whom I called out to. I explained that I'd broken my leg. I then dialled 999 and some paramedics were dispatched. Until they were there, the couple kept me company. Later, a lifeboat arrived and I was evacuated to the mainland. (By this time, the tide had come in.)
I was then taken by ambulance to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. The following morning I was operated on, and an intramedullary nail was inserted into my tibia. My fibula was also broken. I remained in hospital for another few days before returning to London on crutches.
I had planned a holiday in Paris with my wife and son, during which I intended to explore La Petite Ceinture and Le Sanatorium d'Aincourt, but I was obviously in no fit state to do any exploring. The physiotherapist at Edinburgh had strongly recommended I hire a wheelchair. My wife arranged that, and I was able to go. I did have a look around Le Musee du Louvre and La Cathedrale de Notre Dame, and went out in the evening to restaurants.
I'm gradually getting better - the tibia has now healed. My wife has been looking after me - her wound care is excellent. An orthopaedic consultant in London is checking my progress. I've been off the painkillers for several weeks now and am down to one crutch. I'm able to work from home.
Looking back, things could have been worse: what if no one was on the island, and there was no mobile phone coverage? It doesn't bear thinking about.
I have a lot of people to thank: the couple on the island for keeping me company - I hope the got off the island before the tide came in - , the paramedics and lifeboat crew, the hospital staff at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and in London, my family, especially my wife, as well as others who helped in various ways.
Because I've been put out of action for almost three months as a result of a serious injury incurred at a site you might not normally think of as dangerous (compared to, say, Twyford Abbey or Cults), and because of the trouble and worry I've caused to others - in particular my family - after an interesting five years I've reluctantly decided to give up urban exploration. I hope you will all understand this.
I'll still drop in here, and I'll post my Cramond Island photos some time soon, along with a small backlog of other explorations.
Take care, guys, and be forewarned about that hole I fell into.
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