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Child rescues blinded dad on mountain
LONDON (Reuters) - A seven-year-old boy guided his father 3,000 feet down the side of a Scottish mountain after the experienced climber suddenly lost the sight in one eye and became disorientated, the Times newspaper has reported.
Sem Slaven, who has been climbing since the age of three, acted as the eyes of the pair when a glaucoma attack rendered his father Geoff, 54, blind in his right eye and with no none else around and no signal on his mobile phone to call for help.
"I knew my dad was in trouble. It was still light but there was no one else around. I just told him where to put his feet. I just kept talking to him and told him we would be all right," Sem told the newspaper on Tuesday.
But the eight-hour ordeal was not just the descent back down The Saddle near Ben Nevis.
Once they reached the bottom they had to walk five miles cross country to their van and then drive 12 miles to their caravan -- all the time with Sem giving directions.
"I have never felt so ill before. I was exhausted and as well as guiding me down, Sem gave me moral support and kept me going saying things like 'it won't be long Dad. We'll be okay," Geoff Slaven told the newspaper. |
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