Those Adventurous Aussies
Some geographic locations seem to breed stereotypical characters, and the Australians seem to be natural adventurers. Young and old, they like to spread out all over the world, discovering, probing, testing their limits. Life, for some breeds of Australian adventurers is one challenge after another. This is a trait they are proud of.
For this particular story of (mis)adventure we go back fifteen years to September of 1995. Two young Australian men were intent on seeing Canada in the raw, in its most magnificent natural setting at Banff National Park at Lake Louise, Alberta. They were well equipped with boldness of purpose and determination, so that when a park ranger warned that a grizzly had been seen in the area, they decided to forge ahead regardless.
They set up their tent at one of the campgrounds and settled in for the night. And then the unthinkable happened. That cursed grizzly did show up, after all, and it was rather agitated to find foreigners encamped on its native soil. Of course, even Albertans would have been viewed as foreign to that soil cherished by the grizzly, defending its natural turf.
But the two Aussies, Andrew Brodie now 36, and Owen Hereford, now 37, were certainly surprised and shocked. And fortunate too that they escaped the attack with their lives. It was a costly experience in pain and broken bones. Mr. Brodie fractured his right elbow and came away with injured muscles in both legs.
Mr. Hereford's left forearm and left leg were injured as well, and both men suffered numerous puncture wounds, bruising and scarring. That was quite the adventure, not really as envisioned, but nature does tend to surprise. And here's the rather surprising element in the story; the two Australians, after a brooding hiatus of fifteen years have taken action.
They are suing the federal government for not having protected them from rampaging wildlife. This is their statement to the court hearing the case. To assuage the trauma of their spectacular introduction to Canadian wildlife-on-the-hoof they are demanding $75,000 each from the Government of Canada.
For, don't you know, the government failed in its duty to ensure that park visitors would be safe from the depredations of wildlife.
Rrrrruff!
For this particular story of (mis)adventure we go back fifteen years to September of 1995. Two young Australian men were intent on seeing Canada in the raw, in its most magnificent natural setting at Banff National Park at Lake Louise, Alberta. They were well equipped with boldness of purpose and determination, so that when a park ranger warned that a grizzly had been seen in the area, they decided to forge ahead regardless.
They set up their tent at one of the campgrounds and settled in for the night. And then the unthinkable happened. That cursed grizzly did show up, after all, and it was rather agitated to find foreigners encamped on its native soil. Of course, even Albertans would have been viewed as foreign to that soil cherished by the grizzly, defending its natural turf.
But the two Aussies, Andrew Brodie now 36, and Owen Hereford, now 37, were certainly surprised and shocked. And fortunate too that they escaped the attack with their lives. It was a costly experience in pain and broken bones. Mr. Brodie fractured his right elbow and came away with injured muscles in both legs.
Mr. Hereford's left forearm and left leg were injured as well, and both men suffered numerous puncture wounds, bruising and scarring. That was quite the adventure, not really as envisioned, but nature does tend to surprise. And here's the rather surprising element in the story; the two Australians, after a brooding hiatus of fifteen years have taken action.
They are suing the federal government for not having protected them from rampaging wildlife. This is their statement to the court hearing the case. To assuage the trauma of their spectacular introduction to Canadian wildlife-on-the-hoof they are demanding $75,000 each from the Government of Canada.
For, don't you know, the government failed in its duty to ensure that park visitors would be safe from the depredations of wildlife.
Rrrrruff!
Labels: Canada, Environment, Human Relations, Nature
posted by Pieface @ 5:59 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home