Tourist Left Behind on Great Barrier Reef

Summer is here, so I guess this is the season for freaky tourist stories.  We have probably all at one time or another been through loosing a camera, leaving a credit card behind, or misplacing travel documents.  All very irritating, and some times costly mistakes.  Even more irritating are the times when flights and hotels are overbooked, causing delays or having to travel alternate routes, but we live through those with ease; or should at least.

Photo by Digitalart/FreeDigitialPhotos.net

Much worse, is having to deal with getting sick, or having sick children in a foreign country, having to treat in not so desirable medical facilities and hoping that the treating doctor actually went to medical school. Or God forbid, getting arrested in some remote location for something you had no idea was illegal. 

Traveling on a cruise? Then CruiseJunkie.com is worth visiting, listing quite a few events tourists have encountered over the years, some quite helpful even if not on a cruise. 

However, the winner of the best story (or worst...) so far this year, I have to say is Ian Cole.  The 28 year old from Michigan went snorkeling near the Great Barrier Reef, and surfaced only to find the tourist boat had left him behind. Luckily the story has a happy ending, but I can just imagine his moments of panic!! This is why I only snorkel where I can stand...or at least swim to land. You can read more about Ian's adventure here. 

Hope you all have a safe and happy summer!