Down the crater of an inactive volcano

It was a foggy morning on July 11 this year, when twenty-three-year-old Clay and twenty-five-year-old Akeimi Chestin reached the foot of the Liamuig volcano on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts. It was the third day of their honeymoon. Immediately upon the arrival, Clay saw that it was one of the main sights of the island, a dormant volcano whose top was lost in the clouds, while the foothills descended to the sea itself. He wanted to climb to the crater, but he wasn't deterred by the fact that once upon a time the English named the volcano the Mountain of Despair.

The couple drove to the foothills, expecting to be able to learn more about the trail on the spot. They were greeted by an empty parking lot, from where a poorly marked path started. Anyway, they headed for the top.

The path was getting narrowed, and occasionally it would be covered with such dense vegetation that they couldn't see the sky. The screams of monkeys echoed from somewhere in the trees. It was humid and warm.

Three hours later they reached the top. They realized that the view was worth all the effort on the climb. In front of them, the island stretched out like in the palm iof your hand, the rainforest almost merging with the sea. They were tired and completely wet with sweat so much so that the scarf of Clay has on his head was dripping. Still, they could hardly have been happier. They ate sandwiches, took a few photos and walked around the edge of the volcano's crater. Except of them, no one was around.

Just than, Clay saw something unusual. The path descended into crater, almost hidden by vegetation. The narrow steps were almost carved into the rock, while the most ordinary, rather worn rope, acted as a fence. To Clay, all this resembled a hidden passage to the Underworld, as if from a fairy tale. Akeimi didn't share this enthusiasm. The trail looked uncertain , as if just waiting to take some sacrifice. Still, she followed her husband.

A few minutes later, she realized she couldn't take it anymore. She told Clay that he was free to continue as long as he wanted, she was coming back. She will wait for him on the surface. Just let him hurry. She watched him disappeared into the depts. He zigzagged, holding on the rope.

Soon she heard an unexpected sound. It was as if a large branch had broken. That sound was accompanied with breaking and crushing. Something big was coming down there. She was silent and listening. She barely dared to call her husband. There was no answer.

Akeimi panicked at first. Her brain was working feverishly. That sound could mean anything. But why didn't Clay answer? Maybe it's too deep, he can't hear her? She pricked up her ears. From somewhere in crater came a faint moan. She leaned over the edge, stopped breathing. She could barely recognize Clay's voice. He sobbed, faintly calling for help. She couldn't see him, but she heard him. She grabbed the phone, but there was no signal. She was trying to call her husband. He didn't answer. He would only moan occasionally. There wasn't other choice but to go down the crater and look for him.

She walked slowly down the rope. When the path became too narrow, she dropped down to her knees. She scratched at the walls. Than she saw something red along the path. It was Clay's scarf. And next to it was his cell phone. She picked up both things and continued. She called to him. And in response, she received only a weak call for a help.

Finally, she spotted his white T-shirt. She didn't knowhow much he was injured, so she prepared for the worst. And when she finally approached him, she saw him sitting with his head in his hands. When she got closer, she realized that he was bleeding from his head and that his neck and shoulder were quite scratched and bruised. She also saw that he was vomiting. Blood run down his face.

Maybe the rope broke somewhere along the way or just slipped and hit the ground. Whatever it was, it was obvious that he had been falling for a long time. He was seriously injured. He asked where they are. She replied that they were at St. Kitts. Why doesn't she call for help? Phones have no signal. Half a minute later, he asked again where they are.

Akeimi was trying to figure out what she could do. They are in volcano, with phones without signals. She has only one left. To somehow get him out of there. She made him look. She explained that they would have to climb to the top, he would have to listen.

She lifted him to his feet. He barely managed to keep his balance and stand on his own. Akeimi held him, they staggered up the hill together. She soon realized they wouldn't get so far. She pushed him in front and pushed him from behind. He staggered, occasionally falling. He reminded her of a drunk. Still, step by step, they progressed toward the opening. He seemed sober enough to follow her instructions. When they came to particularly difficult parts, she would simply bend down, reach for his feet and slowly lift them to the next step. An eternity later, they were at the edge of an opening. And it's only been half an hour. Akeimi called for help. She hoped they might run into group of hikers, but no one was around. They'll have to go downhill on their own. It took them three hours to climb. How long will take them to find foothills with barely conscious Clay?

She slung her husband's arm over her shoulder. They headed down the path. Occasionally, this descent through forest would remind her of a black ski slope. Every now and then it broke and turned, all at sharp angles. She could never see more than a few meters in front of her from the thick vegetation. Clay dragged his legs, but would occasionally lose control and almost crash downhill. Akeimi managed to restrain and hold him with the last atoms of strength, before they both collided with a tree. Sometimes she had to make him sit down. Then she squatted in front of him and he would fall into her arms.

Time passed, the day was almost over. The trail was getting darker. Akeimi barely kept the direction. It happened that they got lost, that they moved off the path. Her brain was working fast. What if they get lost? Can Clay survive an outdoor night? They continued. She checked phones every now and then. There was still no signal.

More than two hours later, Clay's condition worsened. He was losing that little bit of control of his body. Every ten minutes they would stop, he would crash. He was vomiting blood. He mumbled that he just wanted to sleep. Akeimi forced him to both continue. She said she was proud of him, that they would get away with it. And one day they will laugh at all that. She checked the phones over and over again. They were still out of range.

She would think she might leave Clay and rush to downhill for help. And the next look at him would drive those thoughts away from her. In such a state, if he leaves him, he may wander somewhere and that would the end of him. She has to stay with him.

They continued. Clay dragged on, Akeimi more carried him than encouraged and helped him. Then she pulled out phones again. A dash appeared. She called the emergency services. On the other side, she explained to duty officer what it was about, that Clay was vomiting blood and that he was completely disoriented. The duty officer asked if they could get to the beginning of the trail or to send a helicopter. Akeimi looked around. The helicopter couldn't land from the dense vegetation. They haven't choice but to continue. Clay was already barely on his feet. Only the tree stopped them.

When she regained consciousness, Akeimi called the ambulance again. She prayed that the rescuers would go along the path. As soon as she hung up, she screamed, calling out to them. A few minutes later, she heard a voice. Some called them by name. Two or three more minutes and the rescuers arrived. They carefully placed Clay on a stretcher and lowered him to the parking lot. Half an hour later, he was in hospital.

It turned out that he had a concussion, that he broke a collarbone, that his scull cracked, and that he also injured his spine. Two weeks later, he was transferred to a hospital in Florida. Recovery took, Clay couldn't longer hear on one ear. But sometimes they even laugh at the whole adventure. Those words from wedding, that they would be together for better or for worse, made sense.

Lead image: Wikimedia Commons pictures