Having read a thread on Sosua and the jokes about manhole covers (or no covers) I thought I would share my little story with you guys. I live in Los Corales in Bavaro and love it here. Last year the authorities decided to create sidewalks (pavement to the Brits) along all the roads - fantastic we all thought. Then a friend of mine fell down a grate in the road - it moved when she stepped on it after having rushed across the road and was trying to get back up on the sidewalk before the passing bus made contact. It was a really nasty cut and in the end she decided to go back to Europe to have it looked at.
Not even a week later, a Dominican I know (rather large lady) fell down a similar 'hole' and it took three Dominicans to heave her out of there, she was shaken and had a few scratches and bruises but generally was OK.
Now having heard and seen the outcomes of the perils of our roads/sidewalks, what does this girl do but walk her dog one Sunday last year (21st October, 2012 to be precise) and I have dodged all manholes / grates and anything that looked suspicious. Then walking along the pavement having just passed the first entrance to Barcel? Dominican Beach I was watching AMET supervising the painting of the yellow lines on the road, and I wasn't really concentrating on what was under my feet. I stepped on a manhole cover (metal one - hadn't been stolen yet) - there were two very close together and I had intended to walk between them.. but my luck had left me..
My left foot pressed on the edge of the manhole cover and it 'sprung' upwards, my leg fell down the hole, the manhole cover then bounced off my right leg knocking me completely over and in I went, up to my armpits. Luckily for me, I threw my arms out - my feet were flailing in the air and the pain.. OMG the pain, I screamed. AMET and a security guard from Barcel? came running. My dog was on the ground shaking in terror. They put a tourniquet around my left ankle, stopped a taxi and told him to rush me to Centro Medico. The poor dog was left with security.
To cut a long story short the doctors ended up stitching up my leg muscle as well as the skin. It took over six painful weeks of antibiotics but the leg was still badly swollen, after 6 months I still couldn't walk so had been to Santo Domingo where I found that I had nerve damage in my left leg. Of course I visited Veron Ayuntamiento, who sent me to Ministry of Tourism in Friusa where I wrote them a report with photos. Didn't get even one reply... and still some of those manhole covers are not properly fixed, so take heed - do NOT walk on ANY cover (be it metal, concrete, wood, plastic - whatever!)
A year has passed, I still don't have complete feeling in my left leg/foot but I can now walk - it took me more than 9 months to be able to walk properly.. to this day I still won't walk on anything other than a proper sidewalk / pavement and nor does anyone in my family, including the dog!!! (I would attach a photo but I can only do so via a link, oh well, probably best I don't!!)
Not even a week later, a Dominican I know (rather large lady) fell down a similar 'hole' and it took three Dominicans to heave her out of there, she was shaken and had a few scratches and bruises but generally was OK.
Now having heard and seen the outcomes of the perils of our roads/sidewalks, what does this girl do but walk her dog one Sunday last year (21st October, 2012 to be precise) and I have dodged all manholes / grates and anything that looked suspicious. Then walking along the pavement having just passed the first entrance to Barcel? Dominican Beach I was watching AMET supervising the painting of the yellow lines on the road, and I wasn't really concentrating on what was under my feet. I stepped on a manhole cover (metal one - hadn't been stolen yet) - there were two very close together and I had intended to walk between them.. but my luck had left me..
My left foot pressed on the edge of the manhole cover and it 'sprung' upwards, my leg fell down the hole, the manhole cover then bounced off my right leg knocking me completely over and in I went, up to my armpits. Luckily for me, I threw my arms out - my feet were flailing in the air and the pain.. OMG the pain, I screamed. AMET and a security guard from Barcel? came running. My dog was on the ground shaking in terror. They put a tourniquet around my left ankle, stopped a taxi and told him to rush me to Centro Medico. The poor dog was left with security.
To cut a long story short the doctors ended up stitching up my leg muscle as well as the skin. It took over six painful weeks of antibiotics but the leg was still badly swollen, after 6 months I still couldn't walk so had been to Santo Domingo where I found that I had nerve damage in my left leg. Of course I visited Veron Ayuntamiento, who sent me to Ministry of Tourism in Friusa where I wrote them a report with photos. Didn't get even one reply... and still some of those manhole covers are not properly fixed, so take heed - do NOT walk on ANY cover (be it metal, concrete, wood, plastic - whatever!)
A year has passed, I still don't have complete feeling in my left leg/foot but I can now walk - it took me more than 9 months to be able to walk properly.. to this day I still won't walk on anything other than a proper sidewalk / pavement and nor does anyone in my family, including the dog!!! (I would attach a photo but I can only do so via a link, oh well, probably best I don't!!)