Hanging By A Thread by Leah Gorman
Hanging by my nails off the edge of the cliff, I have never felt so scared in my life. I had a feeling of fear, of doubt, that I was going to loose my grip and fall to my death. My feet dangling below me was the worst feeling, I needed something to rest my feet on, something to make me feel secure. There was no one there for me, I was all by myself; for the first time in my life I was by myself.
Previously
I was on my usual lunch time run. Everyday in my lunch break, I go for my run. Today I thought that I would go on a different track, a track that went through a bush track and weaved near a cliff edge. The track was beautiful and so private, along the path I saw only a few people. Being such a beautiful track I was wondering why there were so few people on it.
I would have been maybe two kilometres in on the track when I started to feel light headed. My eyes started to blur and my vision started to change. I slowed down and caught my breath. I had never had anything like this happen before, I started to panic and look around for help. Just up the path I found a park chair, I walked over to it and sat down to catch my breath. I don’t know how long I was sitting there for but, I was starting to feel better.
Feeling better I got up and started to walk along the path again. I didn’t run in case I started to feel faint again. As I walked along I took in the scenery which was absolutely beautiful. I don’t know why I hadn’t come down this path before. It was the case of the left path or the right path, this was the left path. A path that looked like it wasn’t used much, almost like it was hidden or forgotten. I knew that I wouldn’t forget this path, I would try and take this path more.
After walking for a further kilometre, I noticed that the ground was worn away, eroded. I made sure I chose where I placed my feet, I didn’t want to fall over or trip over something. This is when it all happened.
Running with my iPod in I was looking at the path, the scenery and listening to my music. I was feeling better so I decided to push myself just a little bit more than I had been. This was to the decision that would the deciding moment. I continued running, but as I went further I started to lose my footing. My feet started to slip on the loose rocks.
At this time I was at the section of the path that was near the cliff edge. It was blocked off but only some of the way round. I slipped over, falling on my front, as I fell my iPod came out, flying across landing on the ground. I continued slipping and ended up right near the edge of the cliff. I tried to get back up and regain my footing, which didn’t really work. I was still shaken up and not too sure what had just happened. I tried to walk and fell back over, this time I stumbled and ended up over the edge of the cliff. Feet dangling below me, unsure of exactly how I ended up where I was.
Present
So this is how I ended up in the situation I’m in. Going for a normal days run, happy and enjoying the scenery, to here hanging off the edge of a cliff. I had no idea what I was going to do. I knew I had my mobile phone in my pocket, but the issue was reaching it. Reaching it without falling off the cliff and losing the little grip that I had. I knew that there was no choice I had to reach for it, I had to do something.
I tried my best to reach for the phone. I had to get to it, it was a life and death situation, I knew this was my only choice. Struggling to reach down to my pocket, I felt the dirt slipping away from around my fingers. Im sliding further down the cliff edge, further down to what could be my death. Still reaching down to my pocket I manage to get my hand in and I can just feel the top of my phone, when I feel the dirt moving away, more this time.
Each little bit of dirt out from under my fingers the time I have is slipping away. Im not sure how long I can hold on for. Once again I try to reach for my pocket, straining to put my hand in my pocket to get my phone. This time I manage to grab my phone and pull it out of my pocket. Now I just have to call 000. This will be the hard part, holding the phone in my hand I put it up to my face and push the numbers with my nose.
Its difficult to, but I manage to type 000. The sound of the operators voice is like music to my ears. I try to remain calm, while holding on with one hand while feeling the dirt moving from under my fingers. The phone operator asks me my location, it takes me a few seconds to get my answer to her. I find it hard to think and get my answers across. I manage to get out that i am hanging off the side of cliff by my fingertips. That I was jogging and that I lost my footing and fell over twice after blacking out, and that that was how I ended up where I was.
She told me to stay calm and hold on, and that the rescue crew and ambulance were on their way.
I can still feel my feet dangling, with nothing to support them. My legs are aching and my arms are starting to burn from holding on. Sweat is running down my face, I just want to wipe it off but if I let go again I think I might fall. Falling was not an option, I had to get out of here.
I black out again.
When I come to there are several people above me calling out to get my attention. I come to startled, not too sure what is going on. When I see their faces I start to cry. The sight of someone here to rescue me is the best thing, finally I am saved. I watch, listen and wait will they get their gear ready. Only minutes later I see someone coming down the cliff face in a harness. How are they going to get the harness on me. Will they get it on me in time?
I’m finally out of here, and I’ll be able to feel the ground under my feet.
Once again my arms start to ache. The dirt from the cliff is crumbling and hitting me in the face. It goes in my eyes. I try to get I out, but it is no use it didn’t work.
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