A LEETON family first on the scene in an horrific boating accident during a holiday to Fiji played a key role in saving the lives of injured passengers.
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Michelle and Denis White, their children, partners and Mrs White's parents, Kevin and Helen Lehman, were in Fiji for a wedding earlier this month when the unthinkable happened.
The family booked a day trip with the Sigatoka River Safari company and on September 9 jumped on board a jet boat ready to take part.
The tour involves a return trip on a jet boat to a Fijian village and is popular with many tourists who visit the country.
However, while travelling to the village, the family witnessed the boat ahead hit rocks in shallow water and flip, trapping its occupants underneath.
Mrs White said other passengers aboard the boat her family was on were in shock, but forced their driver to stop and help.
"We all sort of sat there with our mouths open because we couldn't believe what we had just seen," Mrs White said.
"I stood up and said: "Does anyone have first aid training?"
"One guy said he had done it a long time ago ... I do first aid training each year through my job, but I never, ever thought I would have to use it in a situation like this, so I wasn't very confident either.
"The boat was upside down on the rocks. We didn't know what we were going to be faced with.
"My sons and I jumped out from the boat and just raced over.
"When we got closer you could see blood everywhere and some people's arms were sticking out. It was horrific.
"I remember it all happening, but I think I just went into this other mode where I was a different person."
Mrs White soon mobilised the rest of her family and the passengers from her boat to do what they could to help, shouting directions and helping the injured.
One lady was struggling to breath, while another was covered in blood and one man could barely move with what was believed to be leg injuries.
At the same time, the motor of the jet boat was still running and petrol was leaking.
The group managed to help all of the passengers escape by lifting the boat for them to scramble out before eventually shutting off the motor.
"The lady that had been walking around covered in blood, it was actually the mother of the lady that had been struggling to breath," Mrs White said.
"I started with her first because order of triage ... she wasn't breathing well.
"It was only after that that I really paid attention to the lady covered in blood and realised half her scalp was hanging off her head.
"I got her and put her between my legs and wrapped it all up with the sarong they give you for the trip ... it was just horrific."
The owner and founder of the jet boat tour, Australian Jay Whyte, was on scene at the accident, with helicopters required to airlift the five injured Australians to hospital in Suva.
Mrs White received an email last week to say it was expected those that were injured had been or would soon be released from hospital.
"Afterwards I just collapsed ... my legs were jelly," Mrs White said.
"I think that's when I went into shock because I had just been on autopilot.
"It was absolutely unbelievable ... the drivers had no first aid training.
"There was no safety procedures in place."
Fijian news reports have indicated police are investigating the incident, but no charges have been laid.
Following the accident, Mr Whyte said the company "was not releasing any information at this stage because we are conducting our own internal procedures".
Mrs White said the family was able to enjoy the rest of the holiday and wedding, but was still "shaken" following the accident.