Stranded In Oz....Need Help!!!!
#1
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 7
Stranded In Oz....Need Help!!!!
Decided Oz wasn't for our family so made all the necessary arrangements to go home to the U.K.....shipping container gone....money transferred.....house gone......booked flights ........then disaster!!!!! Atempted to fly twice but our son is so terrified he could not do it even with heavy sedation....so we are now stranded in Oz ....does anyone out there know how to get back to the U.K without flying??? Please Help
#2
Re: Stranded In Oz....Need Help!!!!
But surely he flew to get out here?
I guess your only other alternative is by boat!!
Can i ask how old he is?
I guess your only other alternative is by boat!!
Can i ask how old he is?
#3
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Re: Stranded In Oz....Need Help!!!!
Decided Oz wasn't for our family so made all the necessary arrangements to go home to the U.K.....shipping container gone....money transferred.....house gone......booked flights ........then disaster!!!!! Atempted to fly twice but our son is so terrified he could not do it even with heavy sedation....so we are now stranded in Oz ....does anyone out there know how to get back to the U.K without flying??? Please Help
#4
Re: Stranded In Oz....Need Help!!!!
It's very traumatic to have a phobia. I also hate flying but I know to get home it's the best option. Maybe hypnosis is the answer but I'm not sure how old he is. Let us know how you get home. Good luck.
#5
Re: Stranded In Oz....Need Help!!!!
There is a bus from London to OZ- maybe it goes the other way too. Or boat to near east then rail, but they take a long time.
#6
Re: Stranded In Oz....Need Help!!!!
Yep, you can travel with Oz Bus from Sydney to London. Here's the website http://www.oz-bus.com/itinerary.html
I just checked and unfortunately they wont take anyone under 17 years old. Shame.
I just checked and unfortunately they wont take anyone under 17 years old. Shame.
Last edited by sjo; Mar 23rd 2009 at 8:06 am. Reason: Gave wrong info!
#7
Re: Stranded In Oz....Need Help!!!!
All depending on how old he is, I'd be working on the phobia as probably a quicker and probably cheaper option than trying to get a berth on a freighter - even if you could get berths for a family. Hypnosis can be very effective - if the subject is old enough of course. I have a friend whose daughter is very flight phobic and last time I was visiting her she caused the plane to be delayed several hours as she needed to get off as soon as the doors closed and of course then they had to download all her luggage - not a popular girl!
If the lad in question is a small child, I would be heading to a child psychiatrist (if you can find one) or a paediatrician who specialises in behaviour issues and not just one who is going to give you a bottle of phenergan and tell you to get on with it. Poor chap! Poor parents!!!
If the lad in question is a small child, I would be heading to a child psychiatrist (if you can find one) or a paediatrician who specialises in behaviour issues and not just one who is going to give you a bottle of phenergan and tell you to get on with it. Poor chap! Poor parents!!!
#8
Re: Stranded In Oz....Need Help!!!!
Maybe the family can fly out and one parent go on the boat with him.
Poor kid, he must be terrified if the sedation didn't even work.
Poor kid, he must be terrified if the sedation didn't even work.
#9
Re: Stranded In Oz....Need Help!!!!
I know Qantas used to do a very good course in getting over fear of flying. I've had a couple of friends do it with great success but this was years ago. The course essentially works on familiarity and explaining how a plane works. Controlling breathing...anxiety causes hyperventilation and hyperventilation leads to a panic attack....will be a useful technique to learn. Has he got an ipod you can download some good games/movies on that he can immerse himself in during the runup to boarding? Maybe ring the airline and ask them for ideas, I'm sure they have experience in these matters. Ask if he could get on the plane first and meet the crew. Many people are dreadful before they get on a plane but perfectly fine once they're on....is there a more suitable sedative your doc could prescribe perhaps? What an awful situation to be in.
#10
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Re: Stranded In Oz....Need Help!!!!
Thanks for your replies........Tom is 17yrs had some turbulence on way out so that might have been the problem,,,,Tried distraction techniques but nothing worked.....second time we managed to get him on the plane, airline was excellent boarded before anyone else put movie on for him.....I'm a medic so gave him lot's of sedation, but when plane started to move he managed to get himself up and try and open the doors of the plane, myself and a steward had to pin him down........looks like we're going back by boat....via Hawaii, vancouver then new york to Southampton....fingers crossed.:curse:
It's seems so hard to get of this place without flying......
It's seems so hard to get of this place without flying......
#11
Re: Stranded In Oz....Need Help!!!!
Yep, you can travel with Oz Bus from Sydney to London. Here's the website http://www.oz-bus.com/itinerary.html
I just checked and unfortunately they wont take anyone under 17 years old. Shame.
I just checked and unfortunately they wont take anyone under 17 years old. Shame.
#12
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,769
Re: Stranded In Oz....Need Help!!!!
Thanks for your replies........Tom is 17yrs had some turbulence on way out so that might have been the problem,,,,Tried distraction techniques but nothing worked.....second time we managed to get him on the plane, airline was excellent boarded before anyone else put movie on for him.....I'm a medic so gave him lot's of sedation, but when plane started to move he managed to get himself up and try and open the doors of the plane, myself and a steward had to pin him down........looks like we're going back by boat....via Hawaii, vancouver then new york to Southampton....fingers crossed.:curse:
It's seems so hard to get of this place without flying......
It's seems so hard to get of this place without flying......
#13
Re: Stranded In Oz....Need Help!!!!
What a stressful time you have had.
I absolutely hate flying. I have to stop myself from crying on take of and landing. I can understand why he is so scared. I had a very similar experience 12 years ago. We were flying back from Mexico to UK after our honeymoon. Our flight was delayed due to bad weather. Eventually we took off. An hour into the flight the pilot announced that we were heading for a storm but he would try and climb above it. The plane was shaking and we were all sitting with our seatbelts on. The pilot then announced that we were going to have to go through it as we were as high as could be. It was like a scene from a disaster movie! The plane was shaking I could see the lightning out the window. Then the plane just dropped! Everyone was screaming and crying, the masks dropped down. It was so scry! We made it home and I told myself I would never fly again! I have flown every year since and here I am in Australia! As much as I hate flying I force myself to do it. I also don't want to pass my fears onto my children.
I can sympathise with you as to someone that doesnt have a fear it probably sounds silly to have to get a boat home. But getting home is the priority. I hope you all get home safely and once you get back maybe he can get some professional help with his phobia.
Look at your journey home as quality family time. Relax and enjoy the journey home.
Good luck.
I absolutely hate flying. I have to stop myself from crying on take of and landing. I can understand why he is so scared. I had a very similar experience 12 years ago. We were flying back from Mexico to UK after our honeymoon. Our flight was delayed due to bad weather. Eventually we took off. An hour into the flight the pilot announced that we were heading for a storm but he would try and climb above it. The plane was shaking and we were all sitting with our seatbelts on. The pilot then announced that we were going to have to go through it as we were as high as could be. It was like a scene from a disaster movie! The plane was shaking I could see the lightning out the window. Then the plane just dropped! Everyone was screaming and crying, the masks dropped down. It was so scry! We made it home and I told myself I would never fly again! I have flown every year since and here I am in Australia! As much as I hate flying I force myself to do it. I also don't want to pass my fears onto my children.
I can sympathise with you as to someone that doesnt have a fear it probably sounds silly to have to get a boat home. But getting home is the priority. I hope you all get home safely and once you get back maybe he can get some professional help with his phobia.
Look at your journey home as quality family time. Relax and enjoy the journey home.
Good luck.
#14
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Re: Stranded In Oz....Need Help!!!!
Have a look at these links - may give you a little help.
http://www.flywithoutfear.com.au/
http://www.fearofflyinghelp.com/
I do have a friend back home who is writing a book on it (she is an airline pilot) but its too far from completion to be any use to you at present.
Good luck
http://www.flywithoutfear.com.au/
http://www.fearofflyinghelp.com/
I do have a friend back home who is writing a book on it (she is an airline pilot) but its too far from completion to be any use to you at present.
Good luck