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I just find this so sad and distressing, but also frustrating! My thoughts are with his family and all those concerned.
In my opinion, every single person who attempts Kokoda should have some kind of fitness clearance in addition to medical clearance. Trek operators have a duty of care for the trekkers they take, but trekkers should have a duty of care for themselves. It is a selfish act to put your safety and care into the hands of another person when you've not done the same for yourself.
It absolutely makes me more determined to provide good quality, supervised training and preparation for as many people as possible in Melbourne who want to take on this amazing journey. To be honest, I don't care if people do not come to me for training and an assessment – I'm just one person trying to help. But all potential trekkers should go to *someone* for piece of mind. Supervised training is not a cost, it's an investment. Death is a cost and too high a price to pay!
Sorry about the soap box rant. More needs to be done to prevent preventable deaths.
Gail, I hope you don't mind me posting my email address for anyone who wants more info on fitness training and preparation for Kokoda. eve.cardiocafe@gmail.com
Eve
Eve,
I could not agree more with your thoughts expressed. "It certainly is not a soap box rant".
It is sad to see the photos and then read about the difficulties experienced by individuals who are clearly under prepared to walk Kokoda.
If anything good can come out of the four tragic deaths this year, one hopes the increased publicity may alert more to the fact that walking the Kokoda Track is a most strenuous and dangerous endeavour.
All the best with your efforts to prepare intending Kokoda Trekkers. Having walked the track yourself, you know what is involved, something that many Medical practioners probably may not, therefore compromising whatever "certificates" that they maybe asked to sign. I agree, Medical clearances solely are not the complete solution to protecting people from themselves.
Regards, Geoff Hardie
When I was on the track only 2 1/2 months ago I saw many people who looked like they didnt belong there having a great old time.
Im 53 and there were people a lot older than myself and a bit heavier than myself just ambling along with their porters.
They all got through. I'd hate to see people who look they cant do it, getting stopped from doing it.
As people who've done the trek know,,a lot of it is in your head.
Im sure weve all heard the story about the super fit cycle racing team that walked the track and not one of them finished it.
Eve's program sounds just great, and the good thing is that she's been there / done that.
Good luck with it Eve.Hi All,
The recent deaths on the Track are certainly generating a lot of discussion and publicity about fitness and preparation which is, at least, some good to come out of all these tragedies.Having only just walked the Track in September, I agree with Peter that there were many people out on the Track who 'appeared' unsuitable but coped well and had a great time while some very fit looking people struggled. Mental toughness certainly helps but it's also about knowing yourself and your limits and Eve's point about taking self responsibility is very valid.
There's an interesting article by Professor Norton, Professor of Exercise Physiology at the University of South Australia, in today's Adelaide paper: http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0…033-911,00.html
Eve, with your experience of the Track, you'll certainly be able to provide the relevant training. My husband had previously walked the Track in 1996 and this really helped our training for this time around.
regards,
BarbaraHi Barbara,
Professor Norton's article raises many issues that should be read and understood by all intending Kokoda Trekkers. The calories expended comparison with Tour de France bike riders I found most interesting.
Of course it is an over generalisation to catagorise even moderately obese trekkers as in danger of coming to grief on the Kokoda Track. There are many examples in the field of sport were competitors have misjudged the abilities of their opponent based upon appearance. I too noted the disparity in individuals coping well, and not so well, during our crossing in 2007
The important issue is that all fully test their capabilities prior, and the Professor's suggestion of some sought of compulsory test is most worthy. I am not sure how it could be enforced though. I recall from my research a few years ago there was at least one Trekking company who did run compulsory training sessions and satisfactory completion thereof was a pre requisite to be allowed to commence a trek of Kokoda. Maybe not so practical today for a variety of reasons.
Again, at the end of the day. we as adults, must all accept full responsibility for the decisions we make.
Cheers, Geoff Hardie
Any commments regarding the actual cause of death in the latest incidents that have occurred on the Kokoda Trail are indeed premature and inappropriate until coronial inquests are held.
Having said that, sudden cardiac death happens every day in every major city in Australia. Deaths occur at safeway, at the railway station, at borders, at the Shrine, at the MCG, in officeblocks,whilst driving etc., etc.,. Why should Kokoda be exempt?
People are walking the streets everyday not knowing the state of their coronary arteries. They do not know how occluded they are and are often unaware or oblivious to the multitude of other risk factors that are impacting on their health. It is not just your fat Bart Simpson or Bertha Butt lookalikes who are collapsing but often the regular fit and healthy looking person who displays no signs of cardiac illness.
People die every day in a variety of settings. In melbourne in the late 1990's a survey found that the rate of sudden cardiac arrest was 0.72/1000/year. Given these ratios the number of deaths at Kokoda may be lower than exopected for a normal population distribution.
During a ten year period at the MCG there were 28 cardiac arrests at major even ts held at the venue and of those 26/28 walked out of hospital/ rehab facilities and returned to mainstream life. Not suprising really. Rapid basic life support/CPR, Early Defibrillation,Rapid advanced life support including intubation and drugs and rapid/expedient hospital transportation.
Kokoda is different. If you arrest you will in all probability die. definitive assistance is a long way away. People do die. It is part of the life cycle. People should not be shocked by this. It happens in the city to surf, the melbourne marathon, to young adolescents at swimming and athletic carnivals often due to long QT syndrome.
People should not be too zealous in thinking that they can solve this problem by developing better training programs, for this is far too simplistic a view. Are people suggesting PTCA(coronary angioplasty for all Kokoda trekkers to check the state of their coronary arteries.)
Sad as it is , sudden cardiac death happens, but it happens everywhere and whilst we would like it to be different , in the real world it is not the case.Life is about living, death comes soon enough.
regards
Pete DowlingYesterday on the radio I listened to an 83 year old who finished the track last friday tell of His experience. He'd been training properly for a year and had no trouble at all. He said,,"it was bloody hard",,,, good on Him.
Pete,
I concur totally with the points you make. I do not believe however, general discussions are either premature or inappropriate.
The point made by Charlie Lynn of Adventure Kokoda in his media discussions surrounding the latest deaths, apart from Trekkers needing to take greater personal responsibility, is that the Authorities do not ever release the results of the medical examinations of the people who have died on the track. No doubt family privacy issues are a deciding factor which is right and proper.
If we desist from discussing general issues surrounding these deaths, in the meantime "Rome burns" and more and more will continue heading for Kokoda oblivious to the risks involved.
Geoff Hardie
As a trek operator, I have met several people who at first glance I have to admit, I worried they would complete their trek as they looked like a medivac about to happen.
However, experience has showed me, that you cannot judge a book by its cover. During the years of operation, we have had really fit people come off the track so you never can tell.
On one trek there was a woman who had to be 120 kg but she walked out proud as punch at Owers' Corner and did not give anyone in her group an ounce of worry as she was trekking with a lot of friends.
We have had two blind trekkers who worried me but they finished their trek. I could go on and on. On one trek we had an 82 year old guy who happened to run into bad luck as the only time we have had to commence a trek from Sogeri National High School, was the one he was booked on adding another three hours to his trek…but he aced it and did really really well.
So, how does a trek operator draw the line. We cannot play god and decide who can and cannot trek. It is part of our requirement and that of our Liability cover that all trekkers have to go to their GP and obtain a doctor's certificate declaring them fit enough to walk the track.
We have had quite a few trekkers pull out at this point when a doctor has found a problem with them so I also look at it as though we are saving a life as often a person does not know they have something wrong until they front up at their GP's office for a check up.
One of the most famous writers in Australia was going to walk with his son and pulled out 1 week before trek date despite having trained for over 12 months. He went and got a second opinion and the answer was still NO. His son arrived and walked and must have stated at least 2-3 times that his father was much fitter then himself and stated he feels he still could have walked.
We have had a couple of triathletes at different times get air lifted off. I often think back to when I was teaching typing at a tafe college in Australia. The older women really tried hard to learn and did hours of practice as it was their money paying for the course and they wanted to pass.
By comparison, the younger girls were often there because they did not get a high enough score to get into Uni and their parents suggested a tafe college. Some of these girls worked quite hard to increase their speed etc but others were just there to fill in time and satisfy their parents.
I think Kokoda is a little bit the same. Older trekkers spend a lot more time training when I listen to their stories and read the forum. The younger trekker may think due to their youth and/or their job and/or their footy training or the likes makes them fit enough to walk Kokoda. Perhaps they also have pressure in their jobs; children taking their time and other family reasons why they cannot train as hard as the older generation. Some trekkers like Fluppy who often posts in our forum take it very seriously indeed and research just about everything.
My own son Nathan fitted this category above who in his twenties thought his fitness level was enough to walk Kokoda. He was representing the Gold Coast at the time as a prop in rugby union and did no other training then a couple of times a week with his team. When he walked Kokoda he felt the hills but to his credit finished.
Sometimes champions such as Ron Barrasi finish but experience problems with knees and according to his personal porter Wayne Urina did it tough. Steve Ovett (former olympian UK gold medalist) toughed it out with little training but finished. With the mental toughness they have I doubt they would fail in anything they do but for the everyday trekker the fitter you are the more you will enjoy your trek.
I personally think these deaths will invent another problem into trekking kokoda which we also experienced last year. Parents will worry about their children and panic them into thinking something may happen to them. This will add another dimension to their trek as mentally they will be walking with the worry of their parents weighing heavy on their minds.
At the end of the day, trekkers have to prepare seriously to walk Kokoda; their medical check up has to be thorough and deep down they really have to want to walk so they are mentally tough enough to get through each day. We also insist nowadays on anyone under the age of 18 has to have a personal porter as we have had some in the past who have just given up and dropped their packs expecting our porters to carry the food backpacks and their packs as well.
For anyone over the age of 55 we feel they should also hire a personal porter unless they fit into the 'super fit' category.
The person who died this week had been emailing me about walking the track for the past three years but never got around to it due to his son working overseas and wanting to do it together. I have no idea how hard he trained but I do have an idea on how keen he was as he had been planning to walk for years. He also had some association with the other end Gona/Buna area and I think some relative who had been based that end of the coast so his heart was truly in walking kokoda.
I guess I see it from a number of perspectives. My dad is 66 and completed the trek with no problems. I was the one who had knee issues at the end. He, however, trained MUCH longer and harder than I did, and with more weight in his backpack. He also has a background of running marathons and the like. I, on the other hand, have medical issues. I'm a personal trainer, but I have auto-immune problems and take medication every day. On that basis, I had two out of three doctors ask me if I really thought I should go. None said I should not. Incidentally, the first thing one of the PNG leaders asked me before we even started if I was "doing the whole track", implying he didn't think I'd cut it. Perhaps because I'm small and blonde and don't appear strong. I don't know.
BUT…as a personal trainer and knowing my body, how it works physically, and how I am mentally, I knew it would be attitude that would mean my success or failure, not my medical problems. Fitness was not a concern. If I had any concerns in that regard, I would have postponed my trip. THAT is where I pull my soap box out. Every single individual needs to take a long, hard look at not just their physical fitness (aside from, and related to, any pre-existing medical conditions), but also their mental fitness. If you're not ready in some regard, this is not the trip to decide to plough on and tough it out anyway. Bad things happen when you don't prepare for things. Under-prepared for Kokoda, to me, is close to not preparing at all. Why would you take the risk?
One cannot point out from a line-up who may or may not have a heart attack. However, you can gauge people who may have problems along the way. Regardless, it highlights, at least to me, the need to require some kind of fitness assessment in addition to medical, before being accepted.
I guess I have major issues with the media historically promoting stupidity. Shows about how overweight and unfit people are doing the trek sends out a massive implication that it's not as hard as everyone says and it's all talk and hey, anybody can do it. THAT is the attitude that needs to change, because there are people out there who won't be responsible unto themselves, because the media has affirmed their naivety.
A death on the Track affects the experience of all trekkers on that trip, and all those associated on the trek company side (and an obvious flow on effect to the likes of us). Nobody can protect people from themselves and nobody can predict a freak accident or unknown medical condition that might cause a death, but I will do what I can to educate people – even if it's one person at a time. A bit more effort, a bit more training, a bit more awareness…doing something is always a better alternative than doing nothing.
I HOPE this DOESN'T mean that people who truly want to do Kokoda will refrain, or that parents will have second thoughts about sending their children.
I HOPE it DOES mean people will do more research, become more informed and take more precautions before they take that first step.
Hi
I have been away for a week and am very sad as everyone must be to hear of another death on the track.
I am one of those "Oldies" celebrating my 70th birthday whilst trekking Kokoda this time last year. I did it hard in fact very hard indeed specially after injuring my leg on the third day out. I did make it through but it was not for a awful lot of effort and determination on my part.
I did actually meet both Gail and Wallace Lemeki, who eventually became my guide, before "Signing Up" at that time both Gail and Wallace doubted my fitness and both did not pull any punches in telling me so. I was at that time already attending the local gym but after talking particularly to Wallace I realised that this was not good enough and whilst keeping on with the gym started to do some serious training both walking on the steepest and roughest nearby tracks I could find as well as twice a week working out on the high steep steps up the Kangaroo Point cliffs here in Brisbane. Walking around local parks or streets really is not training for Kokoda these are a picnic compared to what one may find there. I did the hard yard and it paid off. I should also point out that Gail did right from the start insist that I get a medical certificate from GP before she would take me on.
My GP felt and advised that my age should not be a barrier as long as I worked on it lost some weight and had a complete medical including a complete stress test only then would he sign me off. I lost the weight 20kgs and when I went to the stress test I passed it being told that I was the equivalent to a 49 year old Wow! I still found Kokoda tough but all my correct training paid off.
Age is NOT a barrier and should not be but one does have to put the work and effort into serious training hard, in fact very hard, if one is really serious about trekking Kokoda I cannot impress this enough.
No matter what age the training just has to be done not just over a few weeks before one leaves but over several months before doing so.As I have said previously accidents and unforeseen health problems do unfortunately occur if you have though put the serious training in before going this will pay dividends for you if you have an accident of that unforeseen health problem should occur as your body will be in a better condition to meet it.
Please do not let the recent deaths put you off but let them point out to you that it is tough in fact very tough and that you really need to do that training and get a full medical including a stress test before you leave no matter what age and/or fitness level you are.
Brian
The Kokoda trek is certainly an experience that alot of people have not adequately prepared for. I have spoken to people prior to their treks and asked about their level of training. A lot of people assume that they have adequate fitness because of other sports played or trained. This may help but there is no better substitute for Kokoda than building up to similar walks with similar environments. A stress test should be recommended for people that may be in doubt. A viist to your local GP for complete medical tests would also be highly recommended. I dont imagine that the current deaths unfortunately will be the last. Heart attacks occur in all sports including golf, squash and others, they may not be made public news. Like all things it pays to minimise the risk
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