After successfully completing Win Green G/SC-008, we were looking towards another four activation day on Friday 30th May 2008.  From Shaftesbury, we followed the A350 through Blandford Forum to the edge of Poole, and then the A351 through Wareham and onto the Isle of Purbeck. The village of Corfe Castle was spectacularly beautiful, and much nicer than the vastly overrated Prestbury as Jimmy remarked! We turned right onto the B3069 to Kingston, and right again onto the road up to the parking area at SY943792.

We eagerly anticipated our evening stroll to Swyre Head G/SC-012, and the views over the coast, not to mention the activation. However, just twenty yards beyond the gate at the start of the path, things went seriously pear-shaped. Liam seemed to freeze like a statue. "You alright Liam?" I enquired, but didn't get any response. He then started to fall like a tree to the ground, without any instinctive reflex to steady himself. I dived underneath him to partially break his fall onto the stony track, cradled him in my arms and realised he was completely and utterly out of it. It was just like that awful incident after Tal y Fan GW/NW-040, at the foot of Great Orme GW/NW-070 in October 2006.

Liam then seemed to go into a fit for about 5 to 10 seconds, and then into a deep sleep. I placed him into the recovery position, checked his breathing and pulse, and removed my fleece to place over him. So, it seemed my original idea that he had choked on a Tic-tac in 2006, was wrong. This was too similar to be coincidence. I thought about 'phoning for an ambulance, but I knew he was already out of danger and on the road to recovery. Furthermore, we had beds/accommodation secured. If we went to a hospital, we risked being discharged at 3 o'clock in the morning, with nowhere to sleep and in no fit state to attempt a 300 mile drive back to Macclesfield.

After 20 minutes asleep, Liam began to come round, and slowly got to his feet. Jimmy and I took and arm each and gingerly walked him back to the car, and appreciated the fact that we hadn't got very far. Sat in the car, Liam began to talk and answer questions correctly, as well as have a drink and something to eat. Jimmy directed me down to Lulworth Cove Youth Hostel, by which time Liam was back to himself again. Nonetheless, we still expected we would be doing nothing other than driving home the next day. We made up the hostel bunks and all slept very well.

   

We awoke on the morning of Saturday 31st May 2008. Liam and I were both up fairly quickly, while Jimmy lolloped in his top bunk for a while. Liam was fine, pottering around the hostel cheerfully chatting to other hostellers about what they were having for breakfast, and asking me where we were walking today. I decided to return to Swyre Head G/SC-012, if only to try to jog Liam's memory about what had happened the previous evening.

   

At the parking spot and in the early part of the walk, I quizzed Liam about what had happened the night before. But he was adamant that he had never been there; there was clearly no recollection whatsoever. However, he was happy and healthy in himself, and there had been no problems since the last episode 19 months ago, so I figured it was reasonable to do some more gentle walking today, while keeping an eye on him.

And he was just fine. He and Jimmy, and I all enjoyed the walk around the clifftops to Swyre Head G/SC-012 on this scorcher of a morning. The summit area was an usual triangular plateau, with the sharp point of the 'Head' sticking out into the English Channel, a wooden bench, a trig point and an earthwork type mound that we took to be the highest point, if not the summit! We stood upon this and tried our luck on 2m FM. As expected, the bay area around Poole and Bournemouth, as well as Dorset and the Isle of Purbeck were quite lively with VHF activity on this Saturday morning, and the activation was easy.

One of the many cows on the hill decided to take a walk out to the point of Swyre Head, and of course it was followed by fifty others! The sight of them all cramming into this bottleneck was quite something! As we reached the car park after descending, a farmer called out "Any cows up at the top?". "Loads of them" I replied, "all of them right up at the summit". He nodded with an indication of relief and walked away. Liam got back in the car feeling well and happy, and I too felt a sense of relief.  The JimNav was switched into action with the instruction to take me to Nine Barrow Down G/SC-013.  Thanks to the following stations, all worked on 2m FM with 5 watts: