Kenyan Tourist Lives To Tell About Death In The Waters Article

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Kenyan Tourist Lives To Tell About Death In The Waters

At times holidays may end tragic and holiday makers are warned to be cautious as some of the activities they undertake could be fatal.

Author: Felista

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I can’t help thinking how this holiday was just another exciting part of Martins life. He narrates his harrowing experience to the Daily Nation.“It happened too abruptly. I think it lasted only 30 seconds. There was no time to do anything,” said Martin at Shella Village where he went to pay his last respects to Kibawaa, who he described as “a strong swimmer and brave navigator”.

Kibawaa’s three children, Tima Ali, 14, in Standard Seven at HGM primary school, Fatuma Ali, 13 at Sir Ali bin Salim primary school and Omar Ali, 12 at the same school, held onto Martin’s hands as if to find an answer to their father’s sudden death.

“An empty drum in which we carried fuel appeared partially about 60 metres away. I shouted to my colleagues, go, go to the drum and hold onto it.”

Meanwhile, Martin clung onto a little spongy piece of chair ripped off the boat, so tightly as if his entire life was hanging on it. It was around 5pm.
“Suddenly, I saw Kibawaa, who was a very strong swimmer, getting past the empty drum, beckoning Whitby to follow him. Soon after, I stopped hearing any voice.”

Darkness creeped in and real panic gripped the British tourist who has been visiting Malindi for the last 16 years twice each year, holidaying for three weeks.

“I saw a passing boat and thought a saviour had come. But it just went. I shouted myself hoarse for help. Its crew did not hear me,” said Martin.
“I had to summon courage to live. My heart then told me to kick, kick, kick. And I kicked, kicked, kicked, all the while thinking about Kibawaa and Whitby hoping that they were well.”

It was past midnight when, exhausted but happy to be alive, he arrived at the Malindi Sea Fishing Club to find that Mr Whitby had arrived two hours earlier with the sad news. But Kibawaa’s whereabouts were still unknown.
“We saw the little boat approaching and suddenly disappeared. But we didn’t take much notice as the waves were big. This usually happens,” said Mzee Ba Muhaj Abdalla, a watchman guarding boats at the sea front.

When the news of the capsized boat reached Shella Village, residents mobilized themselves and went for a search along the beach.

“We took a vehicle, and using its beam light, we combed the beach line all the way to the Sabaki River mouth without success,” said Mzee Abdalla.
But after making several trips up and down, they noticed a moving object on the sandy shore. “It was the empty drum and a few meters away, we found Kibawaa’s lifeless body which we carried away.”(Daily Nation 2/22/07) At times holidays may end tragic and holiday makers are warned to be cautious as some of the activities they undertake could be fatal.

About Author

Felista Wakina Tour Operator
http://www.royaltoursafrica.com

Article Source: http://www.1888articles.com/author-felista-1793.html