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Statement from Benjamin Blake - National Park survivor
Statement from Benjamin Blake - National Park survivor
English translation
I arrived in New Zealand with my girlfriend, Macarena, a little more than four months ago, clearly insufficient time to really get to understand the country, its customs, its nature Recently we began to undergo a new experience, known as the Working Holiday Visa.
In that context, we looked for work where advertised, no matter what the qualifications required. In this way, we arrived at the Tongariro National Park, specifically Mt Ruapehu, an awesome place for its flora, landscapes, rivers, volcanoes, among others aspects. We lived in the town of National Park, very small and quiet, recognised as a place where you can enjoy great peace.
Every day we went out to work in the morning to the Whakapapa ski centre, and in that routine we were getting to know people from different parts of the world, all, I think, trying to enjoy every day as much as possible.
Thus, along with Macarena, we became very close to a couple of Argentines, Valeria and Agustín, and Germán Cáceres (Chino) also Argentine. All lived in the same house, ate many times together and shared much as normal.
Something very important that we had in common with Chino and Agus was our passion and dedication to football (soccer). Every Wednesdays the three of us organised a football match, which was difficult, because as you know, in New Zealand other kinds of sports are practised more; we always had difficulty being able to use the stadium or did not have enough people to form a team with others.
Wednesday, July 11, we were all coming out of work and due to arriving home around 6 p.m., Agustín sends me a message by telephone informing me that at 19 hours we were to play football. He also sent it to Chino, and who would be in Ohakune (a town located 35 km from National Park). We decided to go quickly because we had really wanted to relax playing football. We wanted to form a team at least five people. We call Lucho (Luciano) and Nico (Nicolas), both of Argentine nationality and work friends, and so our team was completed. The four of us went in Chino’s car, because it was the largest.
We arrived at Ohakune and it took a while to find the gym. After several turns, we came across this but we were delayed 30 minutes, and a tournament in which we were not even registered was playing and there was another party scheduled for that time. We were going to wait, deciding we had not travelled 35 km in vain from National Park.
Finally, it turned out we were standing on the field to play against another team. After having been able to play and win that game, we were talking for a few minutes with the rival team regarding championship registration and other details. They were very nice people. Then we left from Ohakune very happy.
It was about 10 pm when we climbed into the car to return to National Park. Chino drives, Agustín de co-driver [Editor: passenger front seat] and I was just behind the driver along with Lucho and Nico. Before leaving, we needed oil for the car; we went to fill up, but the service station was closed. Chino, the owner of the car, we were told that we had to go, so we went with what oil was left.
Back we went from Ohakune, talking about the game and everything and I think we had not spent more than 10 minutes driving…my memory is no longer clear...I see giant lights dazzling our eyes, I have no memory of shouting and none of it... after a long silence (for me), I start to hear the loud sound of a helicopter and many screams of people from some organisation. I do not remember anything I saw and I could not feel my body.
A few hours later I woke up in a bed and four people looked at me from above and asked me questions; I did not understand anything. Little by little I was narrating what happened, and still poorly understood. After a few hours my girlfriend Macarena enters the room, hugged me, and we cried. She explained to me what had happened and that my four friends had died.
Today, after multiple operations, I am in my bed at Waikato Hospital, writing what I remember and I know how my four teammates departed with a final victory in their hearts, and that the five of us, that night, we were happy to achieve our goal.
After 12 days in hospital since the accident, I have seen many doctors. I have had an operation on my abdomen and my multiple fractures. I have many difficulties facing me still, but I am improving quickly thanks to the care received at the hospital. I am very grateful to the doctors, as well as the many nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapist, registered dietitian and all those who have relieved my pain and made possible my recovery.
If God wills it, soon I will return to my home in Chile, but I will never forget what this country and the Waikato Hospital did for me.
ENDS
Waikato District Health Board
Healthy People. Excellent Care
Waikato District Health Board (DHB) employs over 6500 people and plans, funds and provides hospital and health services to more than 391,770 people in a region covering eight per cent of New Zealand.
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