Michelle Dowsett, 42, worked as a school teacher but lived on a farm with her husband, Bob, and two young kids, Josh, 2, and Liv, 18 months, so it wasn’t unusual for her to lend a helping hand when it came to yard work.
Bob and her uncle, Craig, were having some trouble with one of the farm machines, so Michelle lent a hand. Eventually they fixed the problem and were just about done, which is when disaster struck.
‘I felt a tug on my hair,’ Michelle told that’s life!
‘My ponytail had snagged on a spinning bolt connected to the motor, and the top of my head had been clean pulled off.’
Michelle shares her incredible story of survival on this episode...
Credits
Interviewer and host: Beth Young
 Producer: Denis Duggan    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"I was scalped at 13 weeks pregnant"

Amazing, first-hand survival stories from people who have faced the unimaginable and escaped with their lives. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Society & Culture

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Setting off to hike to the Lost Palms Oasis, hidden deep within the Joshua Tree National Park, 35-year-old Kiwi Claire Nelson couldn't wait to immerse herself in the Californian desert's otherworldly beauty. She had everything she needed for the four-hour hike, including plenty of water. She'd even left an extra bottle in the car for when she got back. But, in the blazing hot desert, she'd need every single drop...  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trapped in the desert for THREE NIGHTS

It was a steaming hot March afternoon in Weipa, a mining town on the Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland, Australia. At a safety course, 28-year-old mine worker Todd Bairstow couldn’t wait to knock off, treat himself to an ice-cold beer and go fishing. But, finishing up and trudging down to the creek with his little puppy running alongside him, they weren't completely alone. See, crocodiles lurked in the murky waters...
*Thinking of you all, and hope you're staying safe and well in spite of everything Covid-19 is throwing at us. Lots of love from the HIS team. x
Interview/script/host: Beth Young Producer: Jake Taylor  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"I wrestled a CROCODILE for 25 minutes"

*Quick note: We're working from home due to Covid-19, so this podcast is coming to you from Beth's wardrobe. Enjoy, and we hope you're all staying safe and sound. Lots of love, the HIS team xxx
Heaving his massive backpack on, 22-year-old Kiwi William Pike was itching to get up the mountain. He and his mate James Christie – who he’d met at uni while studying to be a primary school teacher – were about to conquer Mt Ruapehu, on New Zealand’s north island. It was James’ first taste of mountaineering and William couldn’t wait to introduce his friend to the sport that he was so mad about. Over a week, the lads planned to climb the mountain’s three major peaks – the highest soaring nearly 3000m above sea level. They had all the right gear, the weather forecast was good, but there was another factor that was completely beyond their control - Mount Ruapehu is an active volcano. But, checking in with the local authorities before setting off, they said there was no sign that it was about to erupt...
Interview/script/host: Beth Young Producer: Jake Taylor  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Crushed in an erupting volcano

With the TV murmuring softly in the background, Desiree Page, 39, relaxed back into the reclining sofa, cuddling her 13-month-old son Cory. It was late at night, and her husband Gary, a long-haul charter bus driver, was away for work. Usually, Desiree would religiously lock every door and window before she went to bed. But, with her sleeping son in her arms, she dozed off. A sound sleeper, she didn’t hear a peep as a stranger stealthily broke into her home. Suddenly, someone was tugging on Desiree’s leg, shaking her awake…
Interview/scriptwriter/host: Beth Young/Producer: Jake Taylor   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A stranger stabbed me, then stole my baby

When Pepita Nicholls asked her husband of 18 years, Robert Ridgeway, for a divorce, he hatched a dark plan to get revenge. Now, there's been an update in Pepita's incredible story...
Host: Beth Young/Interview: Riah Matthews/Producer: Denis Duggan 
*Police interview published with permission from Queensland Police.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"I was scalped at 13 weeks pregnant"

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