A young Canadian woman, Nicole Rakowski, suffered second and third degree burns when she stepped into a geothermal vent in Reykjadalur valley in the mountains between the town of Hveragerði and Þingvallavatn lake in South Iceland. Nicole feared for her life after the accident, as the valley is remote and only accessible by foot. Since there is no cell phone coverage in the valley she was unable to call for help.
With the help of her friends, a Californian paramedic and a member of a local Search and Rescue team which was on an exercise mission in the region, she made it to a hospital in Reykjavík where her wounds were treated. Despite the terrible accident Calyn hopes to come back some day to see the Northern Lights and visit the Blue Lagoon.
Last day of a five day adventure
Nicole was travelling in Iceland with her friends, Calyn Pettit and Megan DeMarco this past February. The accident took place on the fourth day of their five day journey. The 24 year old Canadian traveller told the local newspaper Fréttablaðið that her adventure in Iceland was wonderful, despite the horrible ending.
The group was hiking in Reykjadalur valley north of the town of Hveragerði, east of Reykjavík. The area is highly active geothermally, with numerous hot springs and geothermal vents. A small which river runs through the valley is heated by the many hot springs, making it a popular destination for hikers who stop there to bathe.
Like a million knives
Nicole was the first of the three to change into her swimsuit and was heading for the river to bathe when she stepped into one of the vents:
I thought the ground was solid, but it wasn't, and I sunk down, all the way up to my knee. It was as if I was being stabbed with a million knives, and I screamed at the top of my lungs that I was burning. My friends ran over immediately and pulled me out. But it felt like forever.
She told Vísir that she sat on the ground after the accident watching her leg change colours as the skin peeled off. Then she lost consciousness from the searing pain.
Nicole had stepped off the wooden walkway which runs along the river onto the muddy ground, not realizing the ground can be treacherous: due to the high activity new vents can easily open and the hot water can undermine the ground, creating potential traps like the one Nicole found herself caught in.
Californian paramedic to the rescue
Other hikers came running to the scene, but nobody had anything which could treat a burn wound this bad. It was also impossible to call for help, as there is no cell phone coverage in the valley. Four men, including a Californian paramedic, who had been hiking in the valley when the accident took place picked Nicole up carried her back to town while her friend Calyn ran ahead of the group in the hope of catching a cell phone signal to call for help.
I can't remember the trip back down because I kept passing out, but I remember I asked whether I was dying. Lee answered, not on my watch, which made me feel better.
ICE-SAR member able to radio for help
On their way back from the valley the group met a ICE-SAR member who was participating in a rescue exercise who was able to call for help on his radio. Nicole had arrived at the hospital in Reykjavík two and a half hours after the accident. She was flown back to Canada the day after, where her wounds have been treated. She is also able to walk again.
She says that she received great care in Iceland and that everyone did their best to help, including WOW air which flew her back home.
Nicole told vísir that her adventure in Iceland was unforgettable and wonderful, despite the horrible accident. There are several things I have not yet done in Iceland. We went glacier hiking, we explored the South Coast, took the Golden Circle and more. We were going to catch the Northern Lights that night and visit the Blue Lagoon in the last day, but I just have to do those things later, says Nicole who adds that Iceland is one of the most beautiful places she has ever visited.
A young Canadian woman, Nicole Rakowski, suffered second and third degree burns when she stepped into a geothermal vent in Reykjadalur valley in the mountains between the town of Hveragerði and Þingvallavatn lake in South Iceland. Nicole feared for her life after the accident, as the valley is remote and only accessible by foot. Since there is no cell phone coverage in the valley she was unable to call for help.
With the help of her friends, a Californian paramedic and a member of a local Search and Rescue team which was on an exercise mission in the region, she made it to a hospital in Reykjavík where her wounds were treated. Despite the terrible accident Calyn hopes to come back some day to see the Northern Lights and visit the Blue Lagoon.
Last day of a five day adventure
Nicole was travelling in Iceland with her friends, Calyn Pettit and Megan DeMarco this past February. The accident took place on the fourth day of their five day journey. The 24 year old Canadian traveller told the local newspaper Fréttablaðið that her adventure in Iceland was wonderful, despite the horrible ending.
The group was hiking in Reykjadalur valley north of the town of Hveragerði, east of Reykjavík. The area is highly active geothermally, with numerous hot springs and geothermal vents. A small which river runs through the valley is heated by the many hot springs, making it a popular destination for hikers who stop there to bathe.
Like a million knives
Nicole was the first of the three to change into her swimsuit and was heading for the river to bathe when she stepped into one of the vents:
I thought the ground was solid, but it wasn't, and I sunk down, all the way up to my knee. It was as if I was being stabbed with a million knives, and I screamed at the top of my lungs that I was burning. My friends ran over immediately and pulled me out. But it felt like forever.
She told Vísir that she sat on the ground after the accident watching her leg change colours as the skin peeled off. Then she lost consciousness from the searing pain.
Nicole had stepped off the wooden walkway which runs along the river onto the muddy ground, not realizing the ground can be treacherous: due to the high activity new vents can easily open and the hot water can undermine the ground, creating potential traps like the one Nicole found herself caught in.
Californian paramedic to the rescue
Other hikers came running to the scene, but nobody had anything which could treat a burn wound this bad. It was also impossible to call for help, as there is no cell phone coverage in the valley. Four men, including a Californian paramedic, who had been hiking in the valley when the accident took place picked Nicole up carried her back to town while her friend Calyn ran ahead of the group in the hope of catching a cell phone signal to call for help.
I can't remember the trip back down because I kept passing out, but I remember I asked whether I was dying. Lee answered, not on my watch, which made me feel better.
ICE-SAR member able to radio for help
On their way back from the valley the group met a ICE-SAR member who was participating in a rescue exercise who was able to call for help on his radio. Nicole had arrived at the hospital in Reykjavík two and a half hours after the accident. She was flown back to Canada the day after, where her wounds have been treated. She is also able to walk again.
She says that she received great care in Iceland and that everyone did their best to help, including WOW air which flew her back home.
Nicole told vísir that her adventure in Iceland was unforgettable and wonderful, despite the horrible accident. There are several things I have not yet done in Iceland. We went glacier hiking, we explored the South Coast, took the Golden Circle and more. We were going to catch the Northern Lights that night and visit the Blue Lagoon in the last day, but I just have to do those things later, says Nicole who adds that Iceland is one of the most beautiful places she has ever visited.
