G'day,
I consider myself fortunate to be making this post and I owe much of my survival to my small EDC Schrade C627 pocket knife I had in my pocket.. Last week I was driving my Land Rover Discovery on South Australia's Southern Eyre Peninsula when the furniture trailer I was towing had a tyre blow and combined with high winds it flipped over taking my Land Rover Discovery over with it, on the busy Lincoln Hwy.
I was fortunate not to collide with on coming B Double Trucks and cars as we landed across the Highway upside down. My passenger, my brother and I were left suspended upside down with our seat belts "locked" across our throats and chest for some 25 minutes, making for a most uncomfortable if not life threatening situation. The cabin had squashed and our doors could not be opened and we were covered in splintered glass diesel and oil etc and with the motor still running for a period I thought we could both be Southern Fried Chickens....I could not turn or reach the ignition switch nor my pocket knife as my right hand had gone out through the front windscreen in the roll over and I was certain it was bleeding from the glass but could not see it..my brother who is a retired Australian Army Major and thinks quickly, having several tours of Vietnam and having fallen out of a helicopter while lifting their artillery gun..but thats another story...reached into my left pocket and retrieved my small Schrade and managed to cut both our seat belts which relieved the considerable seat belt pressure even if it meant we fell on our heads in the upturned cabin...I believe I would have been choked by it, as the first blokes on the scene gave incorrect details or their phone message was misunderstood, to SES.. State Emergency Services,Ambos and Police ,and they all went to the adjacent town of Cleve instead of near Cowell where we were ,meaning a 25 minute delay in getting out...I do remember my brother whispering to me in a calming voice....this is another fine mess you've got me into.. Stanley!.......
My sharp little USA Schrade sliced through both seat belts easily.....in Australia Authorities are trying to stamp out carry of even small pocket knives and regard a knife in your vehicle the same as personal carry and in Victoria where I live its $1000 on the spot fine or $2000 if you are near Licenced Premises..Hotels etc....
Notwithstanding these ill informed, ignorant new Laws designed by pathetic Politicians to get the easy, Law and Order votes I will continue to carry my trusty little Schrade when travelling.....this was my first accident in 48 years of driving and saved this "douzy" till last......just superficial lacerations and bruising..could have been much worse...the Police were shaking their heads in disbelief after they got us out safely.. I told them this is how I generally rotate/change my tyres..
One of the first on the scene took some photos of our upturned vehicle still attached to the upturned trailer and just emailed them to me..I will try to post.......I lost most of my furniture and personal gear in my vehicle but they can all be replaced..lives can't.....thank you USA Schrade for making a knife which did not fail us when most needed.....Hoo Roo.
I consider myself fortunate to be making this post and I owe much of my survival to my small EDC Schrade C627 pocket knife I had in my pocket.. Last week I was driving my Land Rover Discovery on South Australia's Southern Eyre Peninsula when the furniture trailer I was towing had a tyre blow and combined with high winds it flipped over taking my Land Rover Discovery over with it, on the busy Lincoln Hwy.
I was fortunate not to collide with on coming B Double Trucks and cars as we landed across the Highway upside down. My passenger, my brother and I were left suspended upside down with our seat belts "locked" across our throats and chest for some 25 minutes, making for a most uncomfortable if not life threatening situation. The cabin had squashed and our doors could not be opened and we were covered in splintered glass diesel and oil etc and with the motor still running for a period I thought we could both be Southern Fried Chickens....I could not turn or reach the ignition switch nor my pocket knife as my right hand had gone out through the front windscreen in the roll over and I was certain it was bleeding from the glass but could not see it..my brother who is a retired Australian Army Major and thinks quickly, having several tours of Vietnam and having fallen out of a helicopter while lifting their artillery gun..but thats another story...reached into my left pocket and retrieved my small Schrade and managed to cut both our seat belts which relieved the considerable seat belt pressure even if it meant we fell on our heads in the upturned cabin...I believe I would have been choked by it, as the first blokes on the scene gave incorrect details or their phone message was misunderstood, to SES.. State Emergency Services,Ambos and Police ,and they all went to the adjacent town of Cleve instead of near Cowell where we were ,meaning a 25 minute delay in getting out...I do remember my brother whispering to me in a calming voice....this is another fine mess you've got me into.. Stanley!.......
My sharp little USA Schrade sliced through both seat belts easily.....in Australia Authorities are trying to stamp out carry of even small pocket knives and regard a knife in your vehicle the same as personal carry and in Victoria where I live its $1000 on the spot fine or $2000 if you are near Licenced Premises..Hotels etc....
Notwithstanding these ill informed, ignorant new Laws designed by pathetic Politicians to get the easy, Law and Order votes I will continue to carry my trusty little Schrade when travelling.....this was my first accident in 48 years of driving and saved this "douzy" till last......just superficial lacerations and bruising..could have been much worse...the Police were shaking their heads in disbelief after they got us out safely.. I told them this is how I generally rotate/change my tyres..
One of the first on the scene took some photos of our upturned vehicle still attached to the upturned trailer and just emailed them to me..I will try to post.......I lost most of my furniture and personal gear in my vehicle but they can all be replaced..lives can't.....thank you USA Schrade for making a knife which did not fail us when most needed.....Hoo Roo.
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