FAGERNES (Dagbladet): – It is a terrible yearsays Rolf D. Malm to Dagbladet, who meets him at the evacuation and relatives center at Scandic Valdres in Fagernes.
Malm walks on crutches, but the injury has no connection with the extreme weather that hit the town of Aurdal in Nord-Aurdal on the night of Wednesday.
For Malm, the “disaster year” started in May.
– Then I was kicked by my horse, after trotting training on the trotting track here in Aurdal. I had the saddle off and was about to go home, when the horse started behaving rather strangely. Suddenly it kicked out – and threw me half unconscious to the ground, he says.
– “Come and help us!”
– Cut across
It was two-year-old Dakota Steinfighter – son of the well-known trotting horse Steinlager, according to Malm – who sent the 71-year-old to the ground with a broken leg.
The kick went straight to the shin. He was completely alone when the accident took place.
– The bones in the leg were cut across, he says, and explains that the leg stood straight up backwards at an almost 180 degree angle – with the toes pointing backwards.
BONE BREAKS: Both bones in the lower leg – the shinbone and the tibia – were broken. Photo: Private Show more
– When I came to, luckily I had my mobile phone on me. I called for help, and it eventually came. Finally I was driven with a blue light to Gjøvik, and operated on.
Malm points to the calf, where all bones are now correctly angled thanks to steel and screws in the marrow. Malm was hospitalized for four days before he was taken home, he says.
OPERATED: Screws and steel ensure that the bone heals properly. Photo: Private Show more
– Since then, I have been at home alone, and things have been going well. I just have to take it easy – one minute at a time. I think it is moving forward. I have been told to tread hard on it and use it properly, because then it will heal faster, he claims.
HORRIBLE ACCIDENT: – The bones in the leg were cut across, he says, and explains that the whole leg was straight up backwards at an almost 180 degree angle – with the toes pointing backwards. Photo: John Terje Pedersen Show more
– Risky
On the night of Wednesday, Malm really got to use his leg properly.
– At five o’clock there was a knock on the door. It was an acquaintance of mine, who is in the Red Cross. He said: “Rolf, now you just have to put on the rags and get out.”
It is not the first time Malm has experienced the forces of nature. In 2013, 43 people were evacuated after a landslide in Aurdal.
– I have a small farm located around 50 to 80 meters away. So this is double up, you might say. It is the second time we have been evacuated.
OPTIMIST: Malm takes the situation in good spirits. – There is nothing else to do. As long as you have good food and a roof over your head, I’m happy, he says. Photo: John Terje Pedersen Show more
Malm says that he was told that he was to be driven to the national highway by ATV, and from there to the evacuation hotel.
– But then I got the car out of the garage and drove myself. And it went well. But there were only minutes to go. Minutes later I wouldn’t have been able to do it, because half the way had been taken. I drove all the way to the edge. It was a bit risky, but it worked.
Vebjørn Johansen, municipal manager for health and care in Nord-Aurdal municipality, confirms to Dagbladet that there was a large amount of water that carried stones and gravel through a residential area in Aurdal on the night of Wednesday.
– Aurdal has been hit hard, there have been several landslides and many households have been evacuated, wrote Nord-Aurdal municipality on their websites on Wednesday.
– Haven’t seen the top
– Lucky ones
On the way he stopped to pick up his neighbours.
– They live a little further down. I had the car full. They are here now too. Fortunately, they have also been given hotel rooms. We have been very lucky.
He emphasizes that such series of unfortunate events are rare in Aurdal.
– Here it is very peaceful and quiet and beautiful at all times. But now it was a bit much, he says, laughing.
IN GOOD COURAGE: – I take an hour at a time, and think it’s going well. Looking forward to food. Can’t get any better than that, says Malm. Photo: John Terje Pedersen Show more
Malm is apparently in good spirits.
– You seem like you’re taking this in good spirits?
– Yes, I have to. There is nothing else to do. As long as you have good food and a roof over your head, I’m happy. I’m very glad I don’t have the horses at home right now. They are stationed elsewhere. I feel very sorry for people who have animals. It is critical when it is like now.
Malm praises the reception at the evacuation and relatives centre.
– Awesome. Great. I take an hour at a time and think it’s going well. Looking forward to food. Can’t get any better than that.
STILL GOOD FRIENDS: Malm (71) holds no grudge against Dakota Steinfighter (2). Photo: Private Show more
Still good friends
Malm has three trotting horses, he says – “two old and a two-year-old who is in training”.
– It’s a pure, expensive hobby, he says, laughing.
And for anyone wondering: There is no blood between Malm and Steinfighter.
– No, poor thing. Anything can happen to a horse. It is suspected that there has been a viper in the picture here, which I have not seen.
– Are you still good friends?
– Yes. It goes into training. We will try to get a few kroner out of it!
2023-08-10 15:55:11
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