Ski lift horror.

This story begins when I was about five years old, I was climbing a metal frame, and slipped; I hit my head on the concrete floor, and since then I have had a fear of heights.

The next chapter in the story takes place many years later on a holiday in Germany. I was with friends holidaying down the Rhine.On this day we decided to see a beautiful castle, which was at the top of a steep hill. The only way up, was by chair lift.

I looked up at the tree covered hill and said to my friend, Geoff,"There's no way I'm going up on a chair lift, I'm scared of heights."

Geoff turned to me and said, "There is no other way, Al, and you do want to see the castle."

He was right, I did want to see the castle, and the lift was the only way up. So, taking a hold of myself, I condescended to go on the lift. The whole journey - no longer than five minutes - I was looking at the back of the person in front,and praying "Please let me get to the top, soon."

When the lift passed over the trees my heart started to race; I told myself "Thousands of people a day do this, there is nothing to worry about. When the chair gets to the top, stand up and walk off." It didn't help me in the slightest.

My chair reached the top, and I breathed a sigh of relief. I had made it, or so I thought...

Worse fear was to come. I found I was unable to get off the seat, and the chair was making the return journey. I had put my weight on the edge trying to get off, and now I sat half on-half off the seat as it turned for the return.

I could feel the ground moving away from my feet, here I was, toes barely touching the ground, and a tree lined ravine below. I can tell you, if anybody asks "Does your life flash past you?" At that moment my life did.

I wriggled frantically trying to free myself, and get back to the firmness of land; all the time watching the horror on the faces of my friends, as they stood hopelessly by.

Eventually, I did free myself, and rejoin my friends. After a lot of hugging and hand shakes, Tony asked "What happened, Al? We thought you were a gonna."

I replied, "So, did I, Tony. What cause the panic was the box of chocolates I bought, they jammed in the slats of the seat and I couldn't free myself."