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This morning we said goodbye to the 'Iona College' students and their carer's. The first flight got away not long after 8am with the second flight departing a short time later. Today the plan was for them to stay in Kokoda and to spend the night at our Orohaven Kokoda Retreat.
Tomorrow morning they will commence their walk up to Isurava Village. Trekkers include :
- John-Paul Emery
- Jared Ferrari
- Josh Goener
- Matthew Hoey
- Daniel Malt
- Sean Munro
- Josh Neufeld
- Daniel Scandar
- Tom Warren
- Brenton Williams
- Darren Harbinson
- Rick Nalatu
- Andrew Ricketts
- Vince Moynihan
Photographs below were taken today:
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IMGP6205.jpg16th April: We heard from the track today that trekkers reached Isurava Village today and that they are all ok and doing fine.
IMG_1417__Small_.jpg18th April: Yesterday was not such a good day for trek 515 as it turns out Brenton Williams was vomiting and could not keep anything down. Combine this with sweating and walking up a mountain, its no wonder he could not continue walking the track. It was then decided by the group after their nights sleep in Isurava Village that he would return back to Kokoda along with one of the teachers. As they did not have any porters, two people were engaged to help carry him off the mountain. I heard from Kokoda that they had reached our camp and were resting there until being picked up and brought back into Port Moresby later today.
Around 1pm we started hearing one of our porters singing out for their guide who was with the trekkers up the front of the group that two trekkers could not continue and was sick back at Isurava Monument area. McKenzie the assistant guide who was at the back of the group came on the radio as asked for John to walk back to Isurava. This was later confirmed by a doctor that a medevac was required.
As the only way out of Isurava is by chopper, Mondial Assistance their travel insurance company was informed; a case number was stated and its been all systems go ever since trying to organise a helicopter from Port Moresby to go in and pick them up. As early as 5am this morning they phoned me from Australia to ask if I had heard anything further so am very impressed with them both this year and last year. According to them Heli Niugini has been asked to go in and get them around 7:30-8am this morning but they were wanting confirmation that they were both still sick. We have been trying to get radio contact this morning but so far no-one has answered us. Will keep you all informed as to the progress later in the day.
As for the others in the group, they were supposed to get to Eora Creek last night but the last I heard was that they were at Alola Village waiting on their guide John to return from Isurava.
D2_ISURAVA_MEMORIAL__Small_.JPG18th April: Am about to head back down to the helicopter company as they have now picked up all sick trekkers and presently heading back to Port Moresby.
My apologies as there seems to have been some confusion. Vince is not the sick teacher, he was the carer who walked back off the mountain with Brenton. We are still to find out who the sick teacher is along with another student. It seems the boys got the teachers names mixed up and thought it was Vince who remained at Isurava.
I will give you a full report once I arrive back from the Pacific International Hospital.
Update 2:15pm
Have not long walked in the door after arriving home from the Pacific International Hospital. Airlifted off the track were as follows:
Teacher/Carer: Darren Harbinson
Students: Jared Ferrari & Brenton WilliamsAs I left the hospital they were both about to be put on a drip. The Dean of Students Mar Harvey had been informed and both students had spoken to their parents.
Darren remains at the hospital with Jared and Brenton and will give me a phone call when they are ready to be picked up and booked into a hotel.
Vince was dropped at Eora Creek by the chopper and was going to play catch up. Tom Hango (our KTL porter who stayed back at Isurava) left there shortly after the helicopter took off and is also trying to play catch up. This should not be too difficult for Tom as he won the race from Owers' Corner to Kokoda in 2007 in a time of 19 hours so is renowned as the 3rd fastest man to have ever walked the Kokoda Track!
We have not heard but suspect the group will spend the night around Templeton's Crossing area.
IMGP4088__Small_.JPGI rang the mobile number provided in one of the earlier postings today and spoke with Darren Harbinson who was at the hospital with Brenton and Jared. He indicated that a stomach bug had gone through the camp. He believed the boys and teachers who weren't evacuated are doing OK although they were a bit weak.
I suspect that some of the parents are not aware of this site. It has been a great way to keep track of what's been going on.
To Trek 515 – Our thoughts are with you all and especially Mr Harbinson, Brenton & Jared and hope they make a speedy recovery. From Paul & Belinda Munro
A world without communication, scary! Hope all the boys are well, we know they are in good hands and more news will be forthcoming. Hang in guys.
It's all a bit too realistic isn't it, but we guess that's what doing the trek is all about.
For the boys still on the trail – keep going and remember the spirit for those that haven't been able to continue.
For those that couldn't go on, we wish you good health and a speedy recovery.
19th April: Sorry could not post anything last night as my internet was down.
Around 8pm last night the Brenton and Jared along with Darren were picked up from the Pacific International Hospital. We then drove them down to the Ela Beach Hotel to collect their passports etc. Turned out Vince gave Darren the key but not the password so they had to wait for the person at the reception desk to contact the duty manager to obtain approval.
This proved a little more difficult then a quick phone call as Darren and the boys waited for what seemed like an hour before obtaining their documents.
We then drove them to the Lamana Hotel – Telephone: 0011 675 323 2333 and they booked into a room they were to share. The boys had their original colour back again and looked good. Its amazing what a little fluid in our bodies can do to replace what was lost. They were also smiling and talking and seemed in good spirits. Do not know about the boys but Darren mentioned HE WILL BE BACK!!!
Am now off to Owers' Corner to pick up a family group coming off the track this morning at 9am so better get moving.
19th April: Good News, the group have now reached EFOGI Village the half way point! Our guide sounded quite excited as he told us the news. Apparently Vince caught up with the rest of the group along with Tom Hango and they spent last night together.
I was in the troopy heading out to Owers' when I took the call from Naduri Lookout. He said everyone was doing ok so you can all relax – we certainly need to after the excitement of the past couple of days.
I have another medevac to organise now with a trekker who started yesterday and is sick at Ioribaiwa Village and needs to be air lifted off the track.
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IMG_1445__Small_.jpgReceived tonight this message:
Hi Gail,
Super quick message to let you know the boys & I got home @ 7:30 tonight (cleared customs by 8:30). Very relieved Mums and Dads. Boys still a bit shakey at times but well on way to recovery. Your help awesome. Hope Russell got some sleep
Will contact you tomorrow after very long sleep in.Darren
Editors Note: Excellent news Darren, glad to hear you are all back home safe and sound. No doubt you will be thinking of the others guys still on the track. They are all going well and heading for home which in this case is OWERS' CNR in a few days time.
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