Eight days in the jungle after my plane crashed - Lives Less Ordinary podcast, BBC World Service

Key Concepts

Plane crash survival, trauma, mindfulness, acceptance, beauty in darkness, resourcefulness, resilience, dissociation, mourning, survivor's guilt, perspective shift, hallucination, cultural differences, connection, gratitude.

The Plane Crash and Initial Survival

Annette Herfkens recounts her experience as the sole survivor of a 1992 plane crash in Vietnam. She and her fiancé, Willem van der Pas (Pasje), were on a romantic getaway when their Yak-40 crashed into Ô Kha mountain. The plane hit one mountain, lost a wing, flipped, and crashed into another. Annette, who wasn't wearing her seatbelt, was thrown from her seat and landed under a chair.

Upon regaining consciousness, Annette found herself amidst the wreckage, surrounded by dead bodies, including Pasje, who had a "sweet smile" on his face. She had sustained severe injuries: broken ribs, broken legs, 12 fractures in her hips, a collapsed lung, and a broken jaw. Despite these injuries, she managed to pull herself out of the wreckage.

Facing the Jungle

Annette describes the immediate environment as dense jungle with red ants and a gaping wound on her shin. She encountered a Vietnamese businessman who was initially alive and reassured her that rescuers would come. He gave her his suit trousers to cover her bare legs. However, he died by the end of the first day, leaving Annette completely alone.

She emphasizes the importance of staying still and focusing on her breath, a technique that helped her cope with her collapsed lung. Instead of judging the situation, she observed and accepted it. She focused on the present moment, avoiding "what if" scenarios. "Right now the tiger is not here. And I will deal with the tiger when it comes."

Psychological and Spiritual Sustenance

Annette highlights the importance of focusing on the beauty of the jungle rather than the surrounding death. She found solace in observing the leaves, the drops on the leaves, and the sunlight reflecting in them. This became a form of "spiritual psychological sustenance."

She also emphasizes the importance of a sense of humor for "spiritual distance," preventing self-pity. She remained grounded and avoided dissociation, except when thinking about Pasje's death, which she actively suppressed to conserve her strength. "Pasje bought that, no, don't think of Pasje. Don't think of Pasje."

Resourcefulness and Physical Survival

Annette describes her resourcefulness in obtaining water. She collected rainwater using foam insulation from the plane as a sponge. She kneaded seven little balls and lined them up and waited for it to rain. She also found a poncho in a bag taken from another dead passenger, which she used to collect more water. She rationed the water, taking a sip every three hours.

She emphasizes the survivor's strategy of making a plan, dividing it into feasible steps, and congratulating oneself upon reaching each step. She celebrated each sip of water, feeling proud of her resourcefulness.

The "Orange Man" and Rescue

On day six, Annette experienced a near-death experience, describing it as a beautiful state with colors and a "wavelength of love." She was "happily dying" when she saw a man dressed in orange. She initially dismissed him as a hallucination.

The man reappeared the next day, but he didn't respond to her pleas for help. She cursed at him in multiple languages. On the eighth day, a rescue team of eight men with body bags arrived. They confirmed her identity using a passenger list and gave her water.

The Trauma of Rescue and Return

Annette describes panicking during the rescue, not wanting to leave the jungle, Pasje, or her "beautiful state of mind." She felt a strong connection to the place. The rescuers carried her out on a canvas, and she regained her sense of humor, joking about being carried out "like a little piglet."

Upon arriving in Ho Chi Minh City, she remained in control, informing Pasje's family of his peaceful death. However, she "completely surrendered" upon seeing her mother, leading to a medical crisis.

Recovery and Mourning

Annette's family had planned a joint funeral service, and her fiancé's family had already placed condolence ads. She received numerous condolence letters, which she found helpful for her self-esteem.

She underwent extensive medical treatment, including having her jaw reconstructed and her collapsed lung repaired. She attended Willem's funeral, which she describes as a "wedding" to his coffin.

Life After the Crash

Annette returned to work trading bonds in Madrid just a few months after the funeral. She found the real world scarier than the jungle, as she had lost her "other half." She went through the stages of mourning and still misses Willem.

She eventually married Jaime, the colleague who had refused to believe she was dead and had searched for her.

Returning to Ô Kha Mountain

In 2006, Annette returned to Ô Kha mountain with some of the original rescue crew. She was initially scared but felt a sense of homecoming as dawn broke.

On the mountain, she recognized the "orange man" who she had thought was a hallucination. He was a montagnard who had never seen a Westerner before and thought she was a ghost. He had fetched his friends to rescue her after realizing she was human.

Annette also learned that eight people had died in a helicopter crash during the rescue operation. She met the daughter of one of the victims, which allowed her to connect with the experience of loss from a different perspective.

Conclusion

Annette Herfkens' story is a testament to the power of resilience, mindfulness, and the ability to find beauty even in the darkest of circumstances. Her survival was a combination of physical resourcefulness, psychological fortitude, and a shift in perspective that allowed her to focus on the present moment and appreciate the beauty around her. Her journey highlights the complexities of trauma, mourning, and the unexpected connections that can emerge from tragedy.