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Coastal Risks

Posted on July 21, 2008 - Filed Under Great travel deal online |

I have free travel insurance. I didn’t ask for it - it came with my bank account. However, living in a place tourists flock to, I rarely venture over the Tamar, and my insurance is, for the most part, useless.

I live five minutes away from the beach. This is obviously fantastic, and I’m not complaining, but it has got me thinking about the accidents which could occur which I’m not insured for. I realize I am not going to get much sympathy for my dilemma, but I have realized recently, it could be a problem.

Yesterday, I was sitting, watching my four year old play in the sea. It was a beautifully hot day, and I was even tempted to enter the freezing Cornish sea. Not so tempted I got beyond a paddle, but it was nice. However, watching my son I started to realize how precarious the beach was - anything could happen from loss of life, to loss of limb, to loss of my wallet and mobile phone as I chased after the child who had suddenly disappeared from sight. As I sat, I started counting the things that could possibly go wrong - a real health and safety nightmare.

This has been further compounded by my recent obsession with rock scrambling/climbing. On the days I don’t have my son, I have a circuit which involves jogging on coastal paths (just think of all those roots and stones to trip over), clambering over some rocks, and climbing others. I obviously try and complete this exercise regime with care and precision, but accidents happen.

I used to live in London, which I know was a far more hazardous place to live. However, in our litigious society, accidents in London always have someone to blame, someone to sue, someone to pay compensation. If I’d been stabbed, I’d have got compensation. If I’d got run over by a bus, I’d have got compensation. If I’d slipped and broken my ankle on a pothole, I’d have got compensation. However, if I fall off a rock and smash my back, I am unable to work, and have no one to blame.

Although, I think this quite healthy. I think there is too much emphasis on blaming people for everything that happens to us. I also believe it is healthy to take risks, and that we need to be responsible for these dangers. I enjoy my circuit training because there is an element of danger. I don’t enjoy going to the gym - it is too sanitized. Besides, why would I want to look at sweaty bodies and metal machines, when I can have have the serenity of the landscape and nature’s own workout.

However, there is a caveat in my policy which states I only need to be away from home for two nights to use my insurance. So, next time I’m thinking of doing something particularly dangerous, I could always go and stay with my friend who lives five minutes down the road, and make sure I’m covered - just in case.

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