Rescue comes as bolt from the blue

By Sally Bird
WITH lightning dazzling the sky and rain pouring down, I lost visibility and veered off the road ending up with the car wedged at an uncomfortable 30-degree angle to the road, in a ditch.
There I sat with the electrical light show lighting up the night, torrential rain drenching everything for seeming miles, and cars and trucks hurtling past at a rate of knots.
What do I do?
I’m OK. The engine seemed to be running fine. But any attempt to move the car backwards or forwards proved fruitless. An inspection – in the rain – showed why. The underside of the car was sitting on the side of the ditch: it’s been grounded, literally.
If I ring the RACV they might get the tow truck at best and that would take hours.
I call home, but my husband isn’t home from work yet, and I’m not sure he would know what to do anyway.
I sat wondering what a sensible person would do, as I watched the cars, slow a little to have a look, then charge past.
Car, car, truck, lightning, more rain. Car, car, truck, lightning, heavy rain. Car, car … the time clicks on.
The thought occurs to me I might be here all night.
Finally a van coming towards me slows, then pulls up. I watch him, he isn’t looking my way, maybe he’s lost and needs directions.
I get out of the car, and try to look needy – which isn’t hard in the pouring rain, soaking wet and in my sandals. Finally he gets out.
“I’m stuck.”
“I realise that. This won’t pull you out, but there’s a four-wheel drive at my girlfriend’s place in Cannons Creek. If it’s there I’ll come straight back. But I don’t think we’ve got a tow rope.”
And he’s gone.
Famous last words.
I’m back in the car. Who could I call who has a four-wheel drive? Anyone would think I was crazy.
Car, car, truck … lightning. Car, car, truck … another slows, then takes off.
I turn on the radio. This is going to be a long night.
A four-wheel drive truck pulls up to offer a hand. But as the driver gets out, he realises his load of stockfeed has been ruined in the rain and some is falling off.
“I hit a deep patch of water down the road a bit and spun out. I’d hate to have been in a car like yours. Don’t know what would have happened.”
But it dislodged some of his feed and he was losing sacks. With the rain, he had troubles of his own.
I sit back in my car.
Car, car, truck … lightning. Car, car, truck …
A four-wheel drive pulls up on the other side of the road.
Another lost driver? Stockfeed trouble?
I can’t believe it, it’s the driver from before back with the four-wheel drive. I think I’ve just met my hero – Malcolm DeWildt. He’s back, with his girlfriend’s brother Ian Lloyd and his truck and tow rope.
In no time they have the cars lined up and tow me out of the ditch.
It seems like a miracle. My car moves again.
And I’ve found my own roadside hero!