During my trip to the platforms, I met 2 offshore personnel who escaped from the helicopter crash in Sabah waters about 10 years ago. At that time, riding on the choppers were the only mode of available transporation to travel to the platforms.
In my mind, as he mentioned the word 'escape', I imagined him dropping into the sea from the chopper, flapping his arms in the middle of ocean, then hugging his life jacket tightly, hoping that the rescuers would spot him.
"On that particular day, I was supposed to board the chopper, but my wife begged me to extend my stay back home, as I needed to visit a close relative. Another colleague who was supposed to board the chopper that day, couldn't make it as he was still sick, so he had to request for a last minute replacement, which he managed to find."
Ohhh! that was what he meant by 'escape'.
"We were lucky that we managed to escape from this unfortunate accident. However, all the passengers who perished in that incident were our fellow friends and colleagues. We often fished with them, worked closely with them, and visited each other during festive seasons and on our days off."
Throughout the narration, the guy flashed a smile, the kind that only lucky, jubilant survivors could flash, triumphant that he escaped the gallows, and the cruel hands of fate, for that moment, and is still very much alive, at this moment.
Ahh... yes . It is hard to imagine losing so many close buddies in a single incident, altogether at the same time. Perhaps, in tribute to the loss of the lives of their dedicated colleagues in their journey to the most risky and dangerous plant operations in the middle of the ocean, these offshore personnel continue to work offshore, for more than 20 years. It made me realized that sometimes, work, is just work. It is not worth risking your life over it, not when your family depends on you for livelihood and your presence lights them up. At that moment, I resolved to be more accomodating, by requesting for data only when it is absolutely necessary and I know for sure, that I will be using it.
In my mind, as he mentioned the word 'escape', I imagined him dropping into the sea from the chopper, flapping his arms in the middle of ocean, then hugging his life jacket tightly, hoping that the rescuers would spot him.
"On that particular day, I was supposed to board the chopper, but my wife begged me to extend my stay back home, as I needed to visit a close relative. Another colleague who was supposed to board the chopper that day, couldn't make it as he was still sick, so he had to request for a last minute replacement, which he managed to find."
Ohhh! that was what he meant by 'escape'.
"We were lucky that we managed to escape from this unfortunate accident. However, all the passengers who perished in that incident were our fellow friends and colleagues. We often fished with them, worked closely with them, and visited each other during festive seasons and on our days off."
Throughout the narration, the guy flashed a smile, the kind that only lucky, jubilant survivors could flash, triumphant that he escaped the gallows, and the cruel hands of fate, for that moment, and is still very much alive, at this moment.
Ahh... yes . It is hard to imagine losing so many close buddies in a single incident, altogether at the same time. Perhaps, in tribute to the loss of the lives of their dedicated colleagues in their journey to the most risky and dangerous plant operations in the middle of the ocean, these offshore personnel continue to work offshore, for more than 20 years. It made me realized that sometimes, work, is just work. It is not worth risking your life over it, not when your family depends on you for livelihood and your presence lights them up. At that moment, I resolved to be more accomodating, by requesting for data only when it is absolutely necessary and I know for sure, that I will be using it.
Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. They may be the last moments you never knew you'd be having when you kissed your child goodnight, hugged your spouse, or spoke to your parents on the phone. Or they may be the moments you bade farewell to your friends, only to realize that seconds or days later, they'd be gone forever. Life is too short to be angry at every single soul, every single second. Be humane. Be loving. Be forgiving.
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