Chapter 4: The Rescuer Rescued

Again a feeling of defeat, when I heard the rescuer couldn’t reach us. On the other hand, someone knows where we are and can always call for back up, right? But how long would that take? How long before we left this place? As we were waiting, I once again tried to calm B.N. and D.S. down and tried reassuring them everything would be alright. Moments later, B.N. started talking, explaining and instructing what we should say to the police regarding the accident. I wasn’t really sure how the police work in these countries, but I agreed with everything B.N. said.

Moments later, the police and ambulance arrived and it was a moment of victory. I remember that one of my family members in Suriname messaged me at that moment. I immediately called and explained that I was in an accident. They were shocked….and curious if everything was ok. I ensured that everyone was ok and that we are now leaving to the hospital. I also mentioned that my friends B.N and D.S were in lots of pain and that we needed to go to the hospital immediately. The police then asked where the car exactly was and asked B.N and myself several questions about the accident. This to make up the police report. I also instructed the police where the car crashed, as we couldn’t see it from the other side of the dune. 

When the paramedics were assessing B.N and D.S, they mentioned that there is only room for two patients in the car and that I should stay with the police. I was shocked and refused to stay in the desert any longer. I couldn’t imagine staying there a moment longer and we were also 1+ hour drive from Doha. I then began faking some pain in order to make them take me to the hospital as well. I was really desperate to leave. I just couldn’t take it anymore. 

Luckily, they agreed that I can get into the car as well. B.N sat in the seat and D.S and I laid uncomfortably on the stretcher in the car. It wasn’t an actual Ambulance, it was more like a desert SUV with Emergency equipment. After some moments of driving in the bumpy desert, D.S complaining about pain and B.N staring out of the window, I began crying. Crying as the adrenaline rush wore off. 

It was 10minutes later when the ambulance suddenly stopped and we heard a helicopter getting closer to us. As they were assessing B.N they noticed that acute emergency services were needed and they called a helicopter to transport her to the city. They then agreed to bring D.S. and myself to the main road and transfer us to the hospital ambulance. It was my first time in an actual ambulance. We continued our drive to the hospital and the nurse injected D.S with lots of medicine. He was in so much pain and complained whenever the road was getting a bit rough. He also passed out a few times… it was horrible seeing him like that.

Finally, we arrived in the Doha Hospital, where you have a separate building for women and men. They brought us to a room with several other people. A nurse assessed D.S’s condition for 6 seconds and mentioned that he’d be back. One hour later, I mentioned that I’d go and look for B.N. As I wasn’t aware, were to search, I just started asking employees the following: ‘Do you know where the lady is who came in with a Helicopter?’

After asking around and looking for her, I finally found B.N.. Sadly I wasn’t allowed to be in the female area and also had to leave the hospital because of my shorts not covering all of my legs. How stupid right? Well I guess cultural differences…But I managed to stay in.

At some point, the police came into the room and again asked about the accident as they want to finish the report. We, BN and Myself told the story which we both agreed to tell the police. At some point, one of the officers mentioned to the other to go and ask D.S these questions to finalize the report. B.N and myself looked shocked to each other as D.S was not aware of the story which we agreed on telling the police. I immediately messaged D.S about this specific story but freeze as they were not delivering...