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The Great Adventure:
How Apu Survived The Wormhole in The Aran Islands, Ireland

BRIAN McDONALD

 

 

 




A 21-year-old tourist standing on an exposed ledge above the raging sea at the renowned Wormhole on Inis Mor, the largest of the three Aran Islands off Galway in Ireland, was swept from the cliff face by a huge wave, and engulfed by the sea.

Aparajita (“Apu”) Kaur Gupta, mercifully, has survived to the tell the tale … and is safe. A shocking video taken by an onlooker from a distant cliff has graphically captured the moments as she disappears towards the rocks and the frothing sea 40 feet below.

[Apu is grand-daughter of Sardar Sangat Singh, a regular contributor to sikhchic.com, and the daughter of Simran Kaur and Krishnendu Gupta who are based in Calcutta, India.]

The Wormhole, which is regularly used as a diving location for the Red Bull Cliff Diving series, is a natural rectangular shaped pool into which the sea ebbs and flows at the bottom of the cliffs south of Dún Aonghasa.

It can only be accessed by walking along by the cliffs.

The accident was witnessed by advanced paramedic, Seamus McCarthy and his teacher girlfriend, Fionnuala Quigley who were on a day out in Aran and had dropped by the Wormhole to view it for themselves.

“We were about to go when we saw this girl taking a video by the edge of the cliff.

"A giant wave came and just swept her off and down onto the rocks below”, said Seamus.

“We could see her almost being swept out to sea, so I took out my phone to dial 999 but there was no reception.

“Fionnuala ran to the nearest house to get help and call the coastguard or whoever and I could see the girl trying to limp away to safety, but she couldn’t manage it.

“Her mother was hysterical and I went over to try to see if I could reach the girl, but I couldn’t.

"We got down part of the way, but no further - it was very dangerous.

“Other people came and we managed to get an army-type jacket and a backpack and we hooked the jacket onto the backpack”.

The makeshift rescue rope was lowered to Apu and she tightened the backpack around her waist while Seamus and another visitor managed to pull her slowly up the cliff face with one arm of the jacket.

“It was still dangerous on the cliff ledge and we sat her down to calm her before getting her all the way to safety”, said Seamus.

He managed to stabilise her ankle and kept her warm before the rescue helicopter arrived and whisked her across Galway Bay to hospital.

Today Apu said that Seamus and Fionnuala had saved her life.

A student of economics at the London School of Economics, she had only started taking a video of the scenery when she saw the giant wave coming at her. “I tried to run, but it pushed me straight down.

It was like being in a waterfall and that probably cushioned the fall.

“I was so scared because I thought the wave was going to come again.

"My ankle was completely smashed and the pain was bad.

“Seamus saved my life and the policeman there was also wonderful. Everyone was so helpful to me”, said Apu.

Apu’s father, consultant gynaecologist, Professor Krishnendu Gupta flew in from Calcutta to be with his wife Simran Kaur at his daughter’s bedside. He was waiting to personally thank Seamus and Fionnuala when they arrived back in Galway from work in Ennis and Limerick respectively last night.

“I only did what anyone would have done”, said Seamus.

Irish Water Safety has confirmed that he will receive a Seiko Just in Time award for his lifesaving actions.


Please CLICK here to watch video.

[Courtesy: Mirror. Edited for sikhchic.com

April 17, 2015

Conversation about this article

1: T. Sher Singh (Mount Forest, Ontario, Canada), April 17, 2015, 10:16 AM.

S. Sangat Singh ji and his extended family scattered around the globe do go to great lengths to get the most interesting stories for sikhchic.com, don't they! With her grandfather's blessings and Guru's Grace, we are all thrilled to hear that Apu is safe. ("Abou Ben Adhem ... may his tribe increase!")

2: Sangat Singh (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), April 17, 2015, 11:01 AM.

Unplanned, of course, it was quite a misadventure, and to survive it was the real miracle. 'Parab bhaavai bin saas tay rakhai' [GGS:277.3] -- I'f it pleases Waheguru the body is preserved even without the breath of life.' The tsunami like wave actually cushioned the 50 odd feet fall and dropped her on her feet and she hobbled to stand up on one leg and held on to a boulder till rescued. It was indeed a manifest miracle -- 'Haath day-ay raakhi-o apunaa kar birthaa sagal mitaa-ee' [GGS:675.3] - 'Giving me His hand He has protected me as His own, and removed all my troubles'. She is now in the intensive prayer unit. Prayers were offered at the local gurdwara as well as thanksgiving Sukhmani done today by our friends and relatives.

3: Irvinder Singh Babra (Brampton, Ontario, Canada), April 17, 2015, 11:02 PM.

S. Sangat Singh ji: This is shocking. On the other hand, it has become world news. We saw it here in Canada ... you have a strong granddaughter. I am sure she is safe, thanks to those who saved her. What a story, never seen anything like it.

4: Jagmohan Singh Chawla (Brockville, Ontario, Canada), April 18, 2015, 11:53 PM.

It's a miracle. We all pray for Apu's speedy recovery.

5: Simran Kaur Gupta (Kolkata, India), April 19, 2015, 11:24 AM.

I was about 10 meters behind Apu when this freak wave appeared. Imagine my shock when I saw her disappear with the wave. I have to thank Waheguru because I just don't know how she survived with "only" a broken left ankle. It goes to show again and again that Waheguru is the master planner and we are his pawns. Gurfateh.

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How Apu Survived The Wormhole in The Aran Islands, Ireland"









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