Surviving only on river water and prayers, Princes Town mother of three Bissoondaye Geeta Seenath had almost given up hope as she wandered through the Matura forest for seven days encountering snakes and sleeping in complete darkness. Seenath, 47, was reported missing during an excursion to Salybia Beach on June 8. She was found alive in the Matura forest on Saturday. In the words of her husband Mohan, the 47-year-old woman’s prayers and sheer will to live brought a “sweet end to a sad story” as she was miraculously rescued on Saturday by Matura resident Jerod Nelson. He said his wife, from whom he is estranged, “drank river water” to survive because she could not find any fruit trees. Seenath, of Chappel Street, Manahambre, Princes Town, went missing last Saturday during a hike to Rio Seco waterfall, Matura. She was among 40 people who went on an excursion to Salybia Beach. Thirteen of the 40 people decided to hike from the beach to the waterfall, which was nearby and Seenath decided to go along.
However, she got separated from the group and wandered off the trail. She is now warded at the Sangre Grande District Hospital in stable condition. Speaking to the T&T Guardian from her hospital bed yesterday, Seenath said it is a “miracle” she is alive. After the hike, others in the group realised Seenath was missing and a search was launched. Members of the Defence Force and Police Service combed the area. They called off the search after four days. However, on Saturday, she was found by Matura resident Jerod Nelson, also called “Wire.” In all, she had survived in the forest for seven days by living off of river water. In an interview at the Sangre Grande District Hospital yesterday, Seenath seemed drowsy from her dramatic ordeal. Her hair was pulled back in one and she was covered with a thick pink blanket. Nurses and orderlies bustled around giving her medication and arranging to take her for an X-Ray. Seenath said she was unable to move on the bed and was in pain, even as she recalled the ordeal she lived through in the forest. “It was like a miracle, every step I made I prayed. At nights I heard gospel, Hindu songs and prayers. I hold on to the mountain and made my way. I walked and I walked,” she said.
She said before she got lost others in the group were bathing in a river. “Some friends of mine were going. There were some foreigners there (by the river) so I followed them out and then I got lost. They were in front of me and I got lost from the rest of the group,” she said. Seenath said she climbed over hills and followed the path of a river. She said even as she stood at the highest points on the hills there was no civilisation to be seen. “I tried to climb this hill to get away from the water and I fell down and hurt my knee. I stayed there whole night until the next morning. It had big crabs and little crabs there but they did not bite me.” “I went in the water and swim but I could only swim a little bit, I am not that good,” she said. Seenath said she had to survive on what was available. “I never saw one fruit tree and I had to drink the river water. I won’t go hiking again, never,” she said.
Reunited with family
Seenath’s sister Champa Singh, speaking with the T&T Guardian at her Chappel Street, home yesterday, said God led her to meet Nelson whom they gave their telephone number to so he would contact them. She said on Wednesday she contacted her pundit Roopnarine Maharaj, of Iere Village, who read Seenath’s patra (horoscope.) Maharaj said he read the Rashi Mala which showed that Seenath would be found on the Western side of the forest. Maharaj told the Guardian he took Singh to Matura on Wednesday and while driving they passed Nelson’s house. He said he got a vibration, reversed the vehicle and drove straight to Nelson’s house. He said he asked him if he saw Seenath and he said, “No.” Maharaj said they exchanged numbers and Nelson said he would look for her. Two days later Nelson found Seenath when she walked into his yard.
Even after the search was called off, her daughter Roshnie, 19, did not lose hope that her mother was alive nor did she give up searching. Yesterday, a visibly happy and smiling Roshnie could not contain her joy that her mother was rescued. She said when she saw her mother at the Sangre Grande hospital on Saturday night they broke down in tears. Roshnie said her mother was in a lot of pain, her legs were swollen, blistered and her left shoulder was dislocated. She said her mother used a mora tree branch for support. The 19-year-old held on to the branch yesterday and said: “This is the reason my mother survived. Without this she could not move and walk down the river.” Mohan said he intends to clean and varnish the branch and hang it in the Palmyra Shiv Mandhir, which Seenath attends, as a symbol of inspiration for all. He said the incident has changed a lot of things for the family. He said the family was grateful for all the help the family received as he said, “There was no better Father’s Day gift.”
Roshnie also gave her father a wallet for Father’s Day. Mohan dismissed rumours that his wife had run away. He said when he looked at Seenath he could tell she had been through a lot. “She is a very spiritual person. It was not easy for her being out there, being alone. I felt pity when I saw her. When I looked at her last night (Saturday,) when I looked at her feet I believe her story. I know it is true,” he said. Roshnie said her mother told them she found a stone shaped like a Shiva Lingam (oval-shaped Hindu symbol) and offered prayers and flowers to it. She said her mother also told her that one night she was sitting with her back against a tree when she felt a snake touch her ear. “She scream and move away,” Roshnie said. Mohan admitted that given the ordeal Seenath experienced she may need spiritual guidance and counselling. He said while she was in the forest she said she prayed “Lord take me.” Mohan said the sad part is no one from the Government, except Toco/Fishing Pond Councilor Terry Rondon and Manahambre councilor Judy Hart came to give the family support during their ordeal.
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Jerod Nelson is being hailed as a hero for rendering assistance to Seenath on Saturday. However, Nelson, speaking with the T&T Guardian in a telephone interview yesterday, said, “I think God put me in place to help this woman.” He said since he saw Seenath’s story on the television he was “praying hard” for her to come out of the forest. Nelson said on Saturday he was supposed to go to the grocery store, but “my mind tell me stay home. Then I see this lady walking in my yard. I recognise her immediately from the clothes she was wearing. Nelson said Seenath approached him and she said, “Mister, mister gimme something to eat nah, gimme something to drink. I am a vegetarian but even if you have meat I will eat that.” “She was dirty, her hair was ruffled and she tell me she feeling weak,” he said.
He said he made her sit, contacted her sister Champa Singh, who had left her number with him when they visited the area searching for Seenath. He said he also contacted the police. Nelson gave her a meal of rice, bodi and patcholi which he reheated for her, until the police arrived. He said he did not expect to see Seenath outside his home. Seenath’s sister, Champa and Pundit Roopnarine Maharaj, returned to Nelson’s home yesterday where they gave him a hamper with foodstuff and a gift for his actions. Singh said they wanted to show their appreciation for his help.
She said Seenath told them when she was wandering she came upon a man with a Rastafarian hairstyle and pleaded with him for help. “He chased her away. He tell her ‘go from here, I cannot help you,’” Singh said.