Nepali authorities rescue tourist in trouble

In one of the best examples of Nepalese hospitality, authorities in southern Nepali border town helped a tourist in distress on January 15, admitting him to hospital and even paying the bills for his treatment.

Shaun Swilling, a South African tourist, was rescued by Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) staff and Tourist Police after he collapsed due to sudden diabetic attack in Belhiya, near Bhairahawa, while on the way to India. Swilling was then immediately rushed to Universal College of Medical Sciences Hospital for necessary medical treatment.

A diabetic person like Swilling is vulnerable to such seizures.

During hospitalization, he was looked after by Tourist Police and NTB staff continuously throughout day and night Nepal Tourism Board partially paid his medical and other expenses for his treatment, NTB said.

Swilling fully recovered from illness and was given discharge 4 days later.

NTB officials, in coordination with South African Embassy in Sri Lanka, even traced his friend in Rishikesh, India and was called to take him back.

Before he left Nepal for India with his friend, Swilling cheerfully said,"Nepalese hospitality saved my life."

NTB said that this is one of its effort to serve the tourists visiting Nepal in a true spirit of Nepal Tourism Year 2011. nepalnews.com Jan 28 09