Saving lives at sea - #SafePassage

A time of giving.

Sunday 4th Jan

It’s been 2 weeks since I ran 21.1 km around the Heli Deck of RSV Nuyina and my body is feeling great. Ankles were tender, knees were tender but my heart is still tender. A time of giving, being together and celebrating has just been. A time with so many emotions and memories. A time we have made, a date and time is the new year for some of us. Each day is a new year filled with aspirations, dreams and hopes. Each day is all some people hope to get through. Their will power to keep trying, keep facing up to the challenges. The bravest people I have ever met. The ones that don’t look at the date or time they just keep pushing. Keep hoping for their dreams to come true. They want to go to England to play football, they have friends in Germany they want to meet, they want to study and become teachers, doctors but... Most commonly they just WANT to work, to feel safe, to provide for their families who are often left in war torn countries, climate effected areas, poverty, corruption, deteriorating economic situation etc. My first encounter with assisting a 3 month old baby in 2022 is when I realised how DESPERATE you must be to risk the life of a child so young. Nothing but packs on their back they will not give up hope to find a better life. A way to live. 

As I scroll through the news filled with fireworks and cheers I’m also faced with those fireworks that end and not with a cheer but with a broken soul and wounded hearts. I read about the trauma that continues to spread around the world, the innocent that are trying to catch a meal dodging gun shots, the 6 week old crossing the Mediterranean, the continuing war in Sudan and the list goes on. This is a time of celebration, giving and joy, no?? I hold my tender heart softly, protecting it from the sadness, the disgust and anger which I feel deep down. However, we can all give something, find your voice, your helping hand.. But understand your capacity. Quality, kindness and connection - It can have a bigger impact than you can imagine. 

I spent Xmas and New Years onboard Geo Barents in the Mediterranean. Here’s my thoughts: 

15.12.23 

Xmas has started onboard this ship. Lights flickering, a small plastic tree covered in shiny balls and a top star some how balances in these wintery waves. The temperature drops and a storm follows as we head North, as far north as they can send us. As far away from the area where an unknown number of boats and people are ignored, forgotten. After the rescue we are instructed to leave. Isn't this a festive time to bring everyone together, feast and be merry. Yet I feel a heavy feeling, many days pass transiting as we are controlled by a decree that is against all human rights. The large deck is covered with a small number of brown winter blankets, the number does not matter we will bring them to safety but frustration builds as we have the capacity to assist hundreds of others in need. Instead they are left at sea, ignored and forgotten. An uneasy feeling of not knowing if they made it to land, they were rescued or were they lost at sea like thousands of others.

30.12.23 

We've been blessed by some amazing weather recently and celebrated Christmas with the crew onboard.

A very quiet few days followed Christmas, mirror calm waters, no wind and big blue skies surrounded us. This came with some sad and heavy feelings with the amount of illegal push backs we witnessed and heard. Good weather means more departures but also more interceptions.. the best present so far is to see the Geo Barents deck full once again! It's noisy and chaotic as the people settle and find a space to sleep. The energy and the excitement of being onboard fills the air as they laugh, chatter and feel free. Although we rescued 336 people this morning and we are on our way to safety we know we are leaving behind hundreds of others who are trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea.

Thoughts are with those who in the last few days have been sent back to the hell they are trying to escape. That's one of the hardest things about this job. We can be so close yet so far.

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Grateful.

Sunday 21st Dec

Grateful. That is the word for today.

Different ship, different place but as stated below, the morning started slow. The reflections of the ice cliffs, the clouds and a very thin layer of grease ice surrounded the ship. The early morning coffee goers up watching the sun warm the day. Today was going to be a magic day. And it was. We came together, support surrounded me from all sides. Those dancing, those cheering, those running with me all warmed my heart and kept me going. Collectively we stood for what was important for us. That can be showed in different ways and I am so GRATEFUL for all. With all the support and encouragement from the team aboard I completed 21.1km, 221 laps of the RSV Nuyina’s Heli Deck in 2:04hrs. Thank YOU to all my fellow half a marathon runners Neil and Demelza, my coach and super star support person Wayne, to Pat, Claire and all those who ran parts with me, the cheering and the dancing squad!

Together 

The morning started slow 

We all had heavy heads on this day 

If you allow you realise a rest is needed 

A ship that’s full of emotions, ups and downs 

Strangers become your closest people quickly 

We ride this roller coaster together 

We eat together, breakfast, lunch and dinner 

We share our morning coffee together  

We are together 24/7 

Before you know it we are all in sync 

You see the same sleepy faces in the early morning 

You hear those who talk until midnight 

The best and worst versions of yourself are witnessed 

Stress and intensity shows up differently for us all 

We stick together, we work together 

There’s an unexplainable bond that will last a lifetime 

Written: August 2024 onboard Geo Barents  

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Why?

Saturday 20th Dec

Tomorrow (hopefully) the 21st of December I will be running for MSF. As the day approaches I reflect on why I am doing this, yes some would say I am crazy and maybe I am but I can still hear the stories of people fleeing their country, their families, their communities in search of a better life, which is definitely not guaranteed. Hope holds them together. Some with only their clothes on their back, travelling alone or being trafficked. The first baby I held is when I realised how desperate they must be if they are spending every cent, potentially selling their families homes or land to board an unseaworthy vessel to travel approximately 300NM across the Mediterranean. Many transit through Libya or Tunisia to access the coastline which only exposes them to high levels of violence, extortion, kidnapping and arbitrary detention. Returning people rescued at sea to Libya is a clear breach of international maritime, refugee and humanitarian law - Knowing this, hearing first hand experiences, seeing the fear in their eyes, trauma radiating off them is heart breaking when we witnessed illegal interceptions at gun point but the Libyan Coast Guard. 

A reflection from Rotation 61 - (Rotation = Italy to the Search and Rescue Zone back to Italy.) 

Rotation 61. 

As we approach each other joy and relief fill the air 

Clapping, laughing and celebratory selfies taken

A sense of hope and freedom is redeemed

Lifejackets are donned in excitement 

Warm and smiling faces are transferred from their unseaworthy boat 

I hold the position to welcome as many as we can

Babies, children, mothers and men fill the deck of the RHIB 

They start praying and releasing thankful tears 

But how quickly things can change 

The smiles disappear and fear returns to their eyes 

An offensive and bright boat appears manoeuvring dangerously 

Masked men telling us to stop

They start to panic and jump into the water

Swimming to us with all their remaining strength 

Soaked, cold and filled with terror they are recovered

They say they’d rather die at sea than be returned 

It’s terrifying to witness this 

I hold a woman’s hand as she shakes from the trauma 

Many tears are shed by a young man sitting next to me 

Slowly as they settle, wash and eat together on deck the smiles return 

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Things you can do when you can't be right there to lend a hand

Tuesday 16th Dec Initially after my first few contracts with MSF I felt guilty being home, being surrounded by a healthcare system, access to medical assistance, a home, food on the shelves, family and support and the list goes on. After a time though, this was not a healthy way to feel. It didn't allow me to rest and recoup to be able to assist again. There are many ways we can help those in need, it doesn't have to be working months on a ship like I did or in one of their other projects around the world.  It can be through education, awareness, discussion, spreading kindness and equality. I'm also guilty of taking advantage of how good majority of us have it! So, when I can I will try my best to help in what ever way possible. In between my contracts with MSF I have participated in 2 half a marathons in the Hobart Airport Marathon held in April and raised vital funds for the  independent medical humanitarian organisation. I am away in April 2026, an extra challenge for myself I decided I will run 21.1km whilst onboard RSV Nuyina. I am planning to run on Sunday the 21st of December around the Heli Deck at Casey Station, Antartica (Weather dependent and work dependent!).  Share