奇速英语

英国普通夫妇成为尼泊尔雪崩事故中的救人英雄

Trapped in the blizzards of Nepal’s worst trekking disaster, british couple Katie Francis and Duncan Hedges helped fellow tourists battle for survival as a series of avalanches were happening.

At least 43 people died in the disaster as temperatures dropped sharply and nearly 6ft of snow fell in just 12 hours. The number of deaths could have been far higher had it not been for Katie and former soldier Duncan persuading some trekkers who were afraid of missing flights to sit out the storm in a remote mountainside hostel.

When the blizzards hit, the pair helped treat hypothermia-stricken survivors who struggled in from the deadly “white-out”. “They were soaking wet and freezing cold,” said Duncan, “If they hadn’t got to the hostel they may have died. They had blue lips and fingers, and they were incoherent（语无伦次的）and shaking involuntarily（不自觉的）.”

Katie and Duncan did not expect to turn into lifesavers when they set off on a 15-day trip to Nepal on October 6. They hired a guide and spent five days hiking on Annapurna, the world’s 10th highest mountain. Duncan spent 23 years in the army before retiring, only to join the reserves for five tours of Afghanistan as a Warrant Office Class 1. He was awarded the MBE (英帝国勋章获得者) last December and his experience meant he was well-placed to take charge of 30 hikers hidden in the hostel.

He warned his fellow trekkers: “That weather’s not worth going out in. If you’re late going back and you miss your flight, the worst situation is you’ve got to pay for another flight. But the other option is you could die on the mountain.”

Talking about the nightmare at their home in Malvern, Worcs, Duncan said: “We took all the extra things – warm boots, hat, gloves, medical kits – and then you see people coming in jeans and a T-shirt. What were they thinking? It’s a serious place and if you’re not prepared for it you will get caught out.”