Helen and Davy’s Mexican Dream

from Lochaber Life #350 December 2022

Winter garden

DIVER DAVY FUNDRAISING TO HONOUR

MEXICAN MEDICS

Iain Ferguson A former deep sea diver who came close to death after catching Covid while working in Mexico is planning a number of challenges leading up to conquering the Grey Corries mountain range in a wheelchair to raise money for the people who helped him while he was in hospital.

Davy Duncan, aged 60, was a saturation diver who in February 2021 took up a job in Mexico. He passed all the tests needed to travel and join his ship and a strict fitness test before he started work. However, just a week after boarding the ship and the day after his 59th birthday, he tested positive, was isolated on board and flown off to be treated.

Unfortunately, he went downhill rapidly, suffering multiple organ failure and was put in an induced coma so he could be moved to a hospital in Villahermosa. At this point medical staff did not expect him to live and after surviving his first night was given a life expectancy of only five days.

His partner, Helen Smith from Fort William, flew to Mexico to be by his side and stayed there for the two months, supporting him day-to-day in the hope that by some miracle she would be able to bring him home.

Language was a huge problem as very few people spoke English and as the area was well off the tourist trail it was not considered safe for visitors, she was told.

Despite all this, Helen found people were only too willing to help, with the hotel receptionist - the only person with fluent

English - being given time off work to accompany her to the hospital and translate what the medics were saying.

There was also a tremendous response when Davy needed blood which being a particularly rare type was in short supply. The hotel manager and all of the staff were tested, even the local supermarket appealed to staff. There was a tremendous public response, eventually bringing two soldiers and a police officer to donate.

After suffering strokes and several operations, Davy was considered stable enough to fly home on a dedicated medical flight, eventually arriving in Inverness where he spent another six months in hospital, Helen making the 140-mile round trip every day to be with him and help with his care. It was during one of these visits that he found the words to propose and, of course, she accepted.

Following further treatment he was moved to Fort William’s Belford Hospital and eventually, home, 13 months after being admitted to hospital in Mexico.

Still with mobility issues, apart from planning their wedding next April, where he is determined to join her for the first dance he, again with Helen by his side, is preparing for a mountain adventure, raising funds to bring the people who did so much in Mexico to Scotland for the wedding.

The charity Equal Adventure, based in Grantown on Spey, will help him by providing an accessible chair and there has also been a huge response from volunteer hill runners/ walkers across the country to support his dream.

The plan is to raise enough money for his Mexican ‘family’ to fly over, something most of them could never afford. People in Fort William have also offered free accommodation for them.

Davy said: ‘I owe my life to these people and need to get them here, not only as a thank you, but so that I can meet them properly and let them see what their goodness has allowed me to achieve.’

Helen echoed his sentiment saying: ‘Davy still has a smile to light up any room and is so motivated and determined to make sure those who did so much for him can see it.’

Given the time frame, it may be the mountain challenge will not be until spring, after the wedding. But this will give Davy time to work up to it with smaller challenges along the way.

It is hoped to bring eight to ten people, plus their partners, over for the wedding. This includes doctors who saved him, the physio who kept him working and motivated him, a nurse who was always so full of energy, along with team members from the hotel who looked after Helen so well.

MCLAUCHLAN – JOAN 1936 – 2022 (Ballachulish) Peacefully at home, surrounded by her loving family, on Tuesday 4th October 2022, Joan Helen McLauchlan (née Marshall), aged 86 years, Tulliemet, Ballachulish. Beloved wife to Ronnie, a much-loved mum to Fraser, Fiona, Trish and Eilidh, a wonderful grandmother to her 10 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren, a caring relative and a good friend to many. Greatly missed.

LAING – JEAN 1938 – 2022 (Corpach) Sadly, but peacefully, in the loving care of Moss Park Care Home, on Wednesday 19th October 2022, Jean Mathieson Laing (née Cruickshank), aged 84 years, Hillview Drive, Corpach, Fort William. A beloved wife to the late Allan, a dearly loved mum Derek, Michael and David and mother-in-law to Meg, Anne Marie and Lynne, a wonderful granny to Sara, Peter, Rachel and Natalie and a proud great granny to Aaron and Liam, a much-loved auntie to Stephen, a caring neighbour and a good friend to many. So greatly missed. MACDONALD – ELLEN 1943 – 2022 (Lochyside, formerly Claggan) Sadly, but peacefully, in the care of CAU – Belford Hospital, on Tuesday 11th October 2022, Ellen Elsie Jean MacDonald (née Morren), aged 79 years, Riverside Park, Lochyside, formerly of Carn Dearg Claggan for many years. A beloved wife to the late Lachie MacDonald, a treasured mum to John, Donald and Ellen and mother-in-law to Eleanor, also Ellen’s partner John, a much-loved relative, neighbour and a good friend to many. So greatly missed.

CAMERON – RORY 1965 – 2022 (Inverlochy) Sadly, but peacefully, with his loving family by his side, on Sunday 16th October 2022, Rory MacDonald Cameron, aged 57 years, Abrach Road, Inverlochy, Fort William, Rory, together with John and Michael Delaney, successfully set up Nevis Builders and for many years worked in and around Fort William and Lochaber. A loving partner to Tricia and a muchloved dad to Molly, a caring brother to Duncan and a best friend to John and Michael Delaney and a friend to so many. So greatly missed.

BEATSON – JOHN 1940 – 2022 (Claggan) Peacefully at home, on Saturday 15th October 2022, John David Robert Andrew Beatson, known to all as Johnny, aged 82 years, Tom Na Faidhir, Claggan, Fort William, former employee with Marine Harvest and Scottish Hydro. A loving partner of the late Ann Donaldson, a much-loved relative, neighbour and friend. Rest In Peace.

LIVINGSTONE – GINA 1949 – 2022 (Inverlochy) Sadly, following a short illness, with her loved ones by her side, at the Belford Hospital, Fort William, on Monday 31st October 2022, Regina Livingstone (Gina), aged 73 years, Inverlochy Court, Inverlochy, Fort William. A loving wife to Sandy, a much-loved mum to Michelle, Kim and Dean, a wonderful grandma and great grandma to all her grandchildren, a very special friend to John and Margaret Cameron, a caring relative, a good friend to many. So greatly missed. MACPHERSON – FLORA 1937 – 2022 (Caol) Peacefully, surrounded by her loved ones, at the Belford Hospital, Fort William, on Tuesday 25th October 2022, Flora MacPherson (formerly Sinclair), aged 85 years, 3 Gulvain Crescent, Caol, Fort William. A loving mum to Angus, Robbie, Flora, Magnus and the late Lachie and mother-inlaw to Chrissie and Nicola, a much-loved nanna and great nanna to all her grandchildren, a caring auntie, neighbour and friend. Sadly missed.

JOHNSTONE – PETER 1966 – 2022 (Glencoe) Peacefully, in the loving care of Abbeyfield Care Home, Ballachulish, on Tuesday 18th October 2022, after a long 16 year battle with MS bravely borne, Peter James Johnstone, aged 55 years, Upper Carnoch, Glencoe, a devoted family man who enjoyed climbing and photography. A beloved husband to Jeanette, a loving Dad to Alasdair, a much-loved son to Jenny and the late Jimmy, a caring brother to Nikki, a neighbour and a good friend to many. Sadly missed.

RITCHIE – MARY 1930 – 2022 (Mallaig) Peacefully, in the care of the Belford Hospital, Fort William, on Friday 14th October 2022, Mary Anne Ritchie (Mallaig Bheag), aged 92 years, Rhubana View, Mallaig, one of 10 children, Mary trained as a nurse then married to the late Pat, who was in the Merchant Navy. After marriage they moved to Nigeria (1958) for around 10 years then onto Zambia before returning to Scotland in 1973. Mary worked in the West Highland hotel in Mallaig where at the age of 72 Mary retired. Mary a loving mum to Chris and Gerard and a wonderful Grandma to Eleanor, Annabel, Angus and Findlay, and also a great friend to so many. RIP.

MANSON & MACBEATH FUNERAL DIRECTORS

10 Ba� lefi eld Crescent, Inverlochy, Fort William PH33 6NB Tel (24 Hour): 01397 701110 www.mansonandmacbeath.co.uk

WORKING TOGETHER FOR festive fun

‘Christmas time, mistletoe and wine’ may be familiar to you as a festive hit record and in many locations throughout Lochaber, the continuing verse of ‘children singing Christian rhymes’ will also be a fact.

Several communities have formed groups to look after the welfare of local people, including festive events including putting up Christmas trees and lights.

However big or small, you can be sure much of the support and funding will have come from local businesses.

In these days when it is easy to order goods and Christmas presents from big online companies, it is often forgotten that many of these products are also available in local shops and from other suppliers on your doorstep.

Turning again to the internet, regular posts on social media say ‘When you buy from my local business you are paying for my children to go to local schools and to make sure that I can serve the community we live in and support local good causes - not so that a highly paid chief executive of a multi-national can buy his third holiday home in the sun’.

Looking at it from that perspective, isn’t it sensible to support those who, in return, support you?

Thanks to much volunteer participation, Caol is staging its biggest Christmas fair on December 2, with Santa touring the village, stopping at several locations to light up Christmas trees, every one donated by a local business.

In Fort William, volunteers from the Fort William Festive Fund have organised an evening of entertainment in the High Street on November 25 from 6pm to 9pm including a visit from the man in red, who will switch on the lights then, with the help of elves, will set up a grotto to distribute presents and hear from youngsters what they would like for Christmas.

Shops will be open to welcome revellers, many also offering free festive fair and competitions as well as the chance to do Christmas shopping.

The next day, Santa once again makes an appearance, hitching up reindeer to his sleigh at 11am before leading a parade to the Nevis Centre where the Rotary Club of Lochaber is holding its annual Christmas Festival, showcasing the immense and diverse range of local business and their locally produced goods.

Shop local, buy local and enjoy local activities sponsored by local businesses is another important message of Christmas.

GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE

MASSAGE (INCLUDING HOT STONE & PREGNANCY) PHYSIOTHERAPY • ACUPUNCTURE • REFLEXOLOGY COUNSELLING (INCLUDING COUPLES) • CBT HERBAL MEDICINE • FOOD INTOLERANCE TESTING SPORTS INJURY THERAPY • YOGA 1-2-1 OSTEOPATHY • PODIATRY

CALL: 01397 702257

E: INFO@LOCHABERCLINIC.CO.UK W: WWW.LOCHABERCLINIC.CO.UK

What’s On at The Nevis Centre

Thursday 24th November // Doors open 7.30pm BEAT THE DRUM PRESENTS THE RUNRIG EXPERIENCE

Tickets £24 inc booking fee. Book at www.neviscentre.co.uk/whats-on

Saturday 26th November // 9.30am-4.30pm

Book NOW!

ROTARY CLUB CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL

Designer Craft and Food Fair as part of the overall festival!

Monday 2nd January // Doors open 7pm SKERRYVORE

They’re back! After 2 years of Covid enforced absence, Skerryvore and Friends, New Year’s Gig returns to the Nevis Centre! £25.00 - www.skerryvore.com