In all the years that we have sailed together (about 40) neither of us has had an injury worth mentioning. Apart from the odd hangover, mal-de mer and some bruised fingers from the anchor chain we have been very lucky (and careful).
All that changed in an instant. Anxious to assist some South Africans ahead of us in a bumper boat (hire cruiser) that had already rammed us on the bow in the previous lock, Jeanette jumped onto a staging, which was covered in green algae, went base over apex whilst still clutching the guard rail and broke her arm. Just like that.
Having got her back on the boat we headed for Castelnaudery , grouped up and going for it. The locks (including a double and a triple) were downhill so I was able to manage without a shore party as J was out of it, in real agony lying on a saloon berth. My rope collar and cuff did not really help....at the time we thought she had dislocated her shoulder.
The Capitainerie in Castelnaudery were brilliant, a lock keeper had already warned them and a taxi was waiting to get her up the the local hospital where an X-ray confirmed the worst, a clean break just below the head of her left humerus. (Not funny!) That was on Sunday and we had to wait until Thursday to get a flight from Toulouse back home to Edinburgh. Fortunately the station was close by, Jean-jacques in the boat ahead took us down in his car and the train was quick, smooth (and cheap -5 €uros each) with mercifully short transfer by Navette to the Airport.
Jeanette is now at home in Fife recovering. I just wish that the NHS had been as efficient and thoughtful with their follow up treatment as the French but that’s another story......