5 hours ago
17
We had heard there was an incredible waterfall somewhere deep in the Thai rainforest. Seeking it out almost killed me.
In 2003 I was travelling solo through south-east Asia when I met Paul, an American with an easygoing, natural warmth. We were the only two people bunking at a youth hostel somewhere in southern Thailand and got chatting one morning. When the staff told us about a beautiful waterfall not far from where we were staying, we made plans to hike there together.
It was only meant to be an hour’s walk away. Thinking we would be back in time for lunch, we didn’t bother to take any food with us. Big mistake.
For four hours we walked through dense foliage, even climbing down vines in search of this supposed waterfall. At many points it occurred to us that we might be lost, but the naivety of youth propelled us forward. Eventually, the forest opened up to reveal a glistening pool of water with a waterfall at one end. We jumped in and laughed at how the trek had taken us four times as long as expected.
It was on the way back that things began to go wrong. Within minutes of setting off, I started tripping over my own feet. Then I became confused and unable to answer simple questions. In hindsight, I was clearly starving and dehydrated. But at the time I did not understand what was happening to me.
That was when Paul did something unexpected. He put my arm over his shoulder, lifted me up and started to carry me back through the forest. When he could go on no longer, we stopped while Paul dug through my bag, found some old sugar and salt sachets, and whipped me up a makeshift rehydration elixir. It gave me enough strength to walk on my own.
For hours we hobbled back, Paul leading the way and cheering me on. Close to the hostel, I slipped on a loose rock and badly twisted my ankle. Paul again picked me up and carried me until we were close enough for him to place me down and run for help. He returned a short while later on the back of a motorcycle, before I was transported the remaining distance home. Paul walked back alone.
Paul left the next day and I never saw him again. But I’ll always remember how a kind young man I had met only a few hours earlier wrapped his arms around me, picked me up and quite literally carried me home. Did he save my life that day? I would say so.
