I kept spinning and held my breath, terrified my lungs would fill with water
his September will mark the 10th anniversary of my trip to sail a raft down the Zambezi River. I was 45 and living with my young family in Devizes, Wiltshire, but had always wanted to visit Africa. When I read about the five-day white-water tour, it seemed the perfect way to do it.
A decade before, I’d spent a couple of days rafting in New Zealand. But the Zambezi was on a different level. Rapids are graded on a scale of one to six, and we encountered a number of threes and fours – names like “Oblivion”, “The Washing Machine” and “The Devil’s Toilet Bowl” gave fair warning. The guides looked after us brilliantly though, and we pulled together as a team, so while the white water was thrilling, I never felt in any real danger.
We’d been told to swim away from the raft if it capsized, and that’s what I did. As I was swept downstream, I clung to my paddle, confident it and my lifejacket would help me stay afloat long enough to strike out towards the bank of the river. Instead, I was pulled under – and could feel myself spinning.
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