David

16 June 2008

Yesterday the phone went – my programme officer from Addis. Ringing on a Sunday, it could only be bad news! And it was. Saturday evening four volunteers were returning home when they were hit by a bus.

My friend David died at the scene. Holly is in intensive care. Oscar and Pamela are in general wards recovering. They are all in Nairobi – air lifted out by air ambulance.

Except for David. He will be flown back to the UK on Wednesday.

David was my age. We were on two training courses together prior to coming to Ethiopia and 3 weeks in Addis. I had lunch with him a month ago when I went to Addis for the cluster conference.

His loss has not sunk in. I’m still trying to process it in my head. He was someone that I was not in constant contact with but always pleased to see. I may not have seen him again anyway but now he will live in my memories.

His loss is an enormous shock for the community of Volunteers. Reminds us how fragile life can be. It could have happened in the UK. It could have happened anytime, anywhere. But the fact is, it happened here and my life takes on yet another flicker of mortality.

Dave was a good man. Like so many of us, there was sadness and frustration in his life. No doubt major disappointments as well. But he was not one for sitting around whining about how awful life was. His pro-active nature brought him to Ethiopia – and that is where he died. The contribution he could have made here will be lost. The hole that will be left in the lives of those he left behind will remain empty. The ‘why’ questions never answered.

His life cut short. Goodbye David