Fragility of Life

While cycling back home with T3 and Damien, we took the shorter way with more cars.
Three quarter of the way through, we were already reaching home.

Glancing towards the front for clearance, i saw 2 bikes 10 metres ahead getting uncomfortably close, i looked away and concentrated on my approach to the corner i had to tackle. When i reached the corner a split second later, they met.It was fast n blur, i didnt know where to focus.

Next thing i knew. 2 riders on the floor. One seriously injured. Other with a bloody head.
The bloody head looked like our local ah-beng. With his scooter, it looks more like he's at fault.
Wats more, he tried to get up as soon as he could. I guess he was trying to run. When i left the scene, i couldnt find him anywhere near the other injured. Run he did. Perhaps.
If i were to give him a benefit of a doubt, he may have gone off to clean his blood filled face at a nearby tap, wherever that is. He is afterall bleedign from his eyes too.

The other guy was probably in shock. He was bleeding from nose n mouth. Coughing out blood.
I had another friend, or rather a sergeant i dun really admire, who had his spleen removed. i hope this isnt the same case. He laid in the same position till the paramedics came.

Yes, what did i do? Nothing. I just lent someone a watch. (Luckily i do know abit of what she was saying) This person is pro. She took pulses from both riders while they were on the ground, ordered us to call the ambulance, giving orders to the riders to stay down and asked someone to direct traffic. The others around just stood there...me included...there is only so much we can do. Someone was already calling the ambulance, and i can't speak Jap. Someone was already directing traffic, T3 included, he was in front. We couldnt touch the bike, as the police would need it in its place. so there i stood, looking at her trying to talk to the injured.

a maybe drunk man did come with a packet of sweets..big packet...talked to me about something....maybe: "these youngsters these days" kinda stuff, from his looks...and held my hand...wtf...he was gesturing that i should hold that person's hands? nah. I spoke english to ward him off. But he wouldn't budge. then i just pointed to the guy when he asked a question. He went over and the lady just gave him the: "hey thanks, but you are drunk" kinda smile...

The fire trucks came first, with another fire car...to clean the petrol off the ground. After which the paramedics came. When everyone is in good hands, we left the scene to the pros.

I wondered what i will do if there wasnt that lady around. Speak no Jap, can't get people to do stuff, can't call the ambulance. I would even struggle to give a pin point location, let alone go n pacify the guy and ask him where it hurts. That said, i am not trained in first aid. I only know how to wrap my army buddy in the thingy we have to carry. wazzit called. Yes i took a few first aid lessons in JC...but thats only on sprains n stuff like that. CPR is the only thing i learnt in the army, along with tying some stick to my buddy. CPR to a breathing guy with suspect broken ribs...nah.

I would love to write further about how fragile life is, but i guess you will find better essays about it somewhere else. As a friend said after a bloody idiot hit him with a vehicle, "Life is vunerable. Treasure every moment you have with your love ones."

Mood: Sombre n pretty much useless. but okay.