Skrevet av: Kari Bjørkli Thomassen translated by Luyten T.
Dato: 08.03.2009 14:35
They were on the way to their hut to look at the dog race. But they became the saving angels for a wounded dog racer.
The wounded racer we refer to is Erle Frantzen
- We arrived in Øvrevann and it was around 2,5 km from Skoganvarre Camping. I saw three dog sledges and a person laying on the ground. A man waved to me, so I drove to them and got a quick update about what happened.
This is what Runar Opdahl told us, the man "on the right place at the right time". He had his two children with him, Alexander (9) and Ingvild (7). They experienced a different scenario than they were used to.
-Then we took the kids out of the sledge, placed the driver into it and drove her down to the depot, he tells. The children took the incident very nicely, but Ingvild thinks it was a bit scary to se Frantzen laying on the ground. But today she doesn't think that way anymore, she knows that Frantzen is all right. Opdahl says it is very normal to come to help.
-It would be stupid to have to compete like that in the Finnmarksløpe, he says.
Race leader Don Lyrek would like to send a small honor to Opdahl, but especially to the children.
-I would like to thank those who stopped to help, I am very happy for that. Also thanks to the kids. I saw they were marked by the incident, but they were very brave until the end, says Lyrek to the press center.