gerous being in the middle of the
road. Impatient trucks and motor-
ists pushed passed in their vehicles.
I thought it best that the group carry
on, and that I would catch up with
them the next day.
I questioned myself on the way to
the Hospital, ‘what the hell just hap-
pened? How did this situation hap-
pen? And within such a short time?’.
We had literally just left together
from the photo shoot. It was all so cra-
zy. Nevertheless, I needed to ensure
our rider was seen by a doctor as soon
as possible.
Once at the hospital emergency
department, doctors had put the rid-
er on oxygen and began to ask ques-
tions. X-rays were to follow. Within
15 minutes of being at the hospital, it
seemed like the entire Pokhara Police
Force was standing outside waiting to
question the rider.
Returning from x-rays it was found
that the rider had several broken ribs,
front and back. An air pocket had
formed on a lung and fluid slowly
filled it. Not much could be done for
him at the time apart from some pain
killers and constant monitoring of his
condition.
As he was resting, the next few
hours were very exhausting. I was
bombarded with questions, multiple
visits from varying police officers, all
wanting the rider’s details.
Repeatedly, I was asked the same
questions, each time wanting to see
the rider’s passport. They took end-
less pictures, until eventually the
questioning became a little more ag-
gressive and demanding of his pass-
port to be surrendered. I refused such
actions as they already had multiple
copies, and that they could not give
me a definitive answer or reason why
they needed or wanted it. With blank
looks on their faces it was clear they
couldn't understand a word I was say-
ing.
The hospitals nurses and doctors
were fantastic and very supportive of
the situation. They helped translate to
the police exactly what I had said, and
they even added that the passport was
no longer on the premises. The police
therefore had no choice but to walk
away. They didn't go too far, parking
right out front of the hospital.
After having a discussion with the
TRAVERSE 77
rider, it was agreed that there was not
much more I could do, we now had
to wait for further details and assess-
ment of his condition. I took the op-
portunity to go out and organise some
supplies for him, to relocate his lug-
gage from the back up vehicle.
I had to push past the many police
now barricading the hospital, they’d
setup camp and weren’t leaving any
time soon. I still remember the look
on one police officers face, as I jumped
on my bike and left. I was quite ner-
vous, as I had no idea what I was get-
ting involved in. I thought they would
follow me and do, who knows what,
while I was out and about by myself.
Was I being paranoid? Who knows?
I'd never been in this situation be-
fore, and all I could think of was be-
ing one of those people in a country
at the wrong place at the wrong time
and wrongfully convicted. Thankful-
ly, I eventually met up with the Nep-
alese Tour Representative, who flew
in urgently from Kathmandu. It was
going to be a little easier to deal, with
not only the language barrier and the
system, in trying to get this situation
resolved as quickly and painlessly as