Tragedy at Musket Cove yesterday

And here is the heart-breaking text I received from my British friends who were close by as the tragedy unfolded:

Tragedy

The last 24 hours have quite simply been one of the hardest of our lives. We are in Musket Cove in Fiji. At just after 5pm last night a beautiful 13 month old girl was pulled from the water having worked her way out of her harness. Rod saw them driving to the dock near where we were alongside and so we ran down with our medical kit at this stage thinking it was an adult. Our heart imploded when we saw little Mahina lying there in her nappy. Amazingly we were able to get an immense team together from the local cruisers - paramedic, doctor, two nurses and a midwife together with all the equipment and medicine that you would have needed in a hospital. I can still not believe that they were unable to get her back but despite all of their efforts she did not make it. Watching her mum carry her, still in her little nappy, away will haunt me forever.

People often ask how and why we are doing this trip given the risks involved and the children. At times like this it’s impossible not to question why but it’s also at times like this we are reminded why. The medical team were clear that she had as good care as if she was in hospital but at the dockside within minutes. The local community and cruising community are wrapping this family up in the softest and strongest emotional and practical blanket that we can. It is at the worst of times that you see the best of people and this is certainly the case.

Having said that, we are working tremendously hard to get this wonderful family home to New Zealand. If there is anything at all that you can do to help us make this happen then please do. As you can imagine flying a little girl home in this way is not cheap and any help that you can give will make a difference.

Please cuddle your little and loved ones tonight and help us carry little Mahina home with our love….

Xxx