By AARON SMITH

A FAMILY from Erub has escaped death at sea where rough conditions have resulted in the family of five having to sleep in their dinghy on two separate occasions. Why were they making this perilous trip from Erub to Thursday Island, that in good conditions can take five or more hours? In a word because of a desperate need for dental work.

Phoebe Pilot, mother of nine from Erub said: “In the ten years I have lived on Erub, I have never seen a dentist come out and when I speak to Queensland Health they tell me I have to go to Thursday Island.”

With the only airline carrier charging around $550 one way for the trip, transporting a family for basic medical needs, such as dental work, becomes prohibitively expensive. Even taking the treacherous dinghy option still costs nearly $500 in fuel and oil alone.

“Both me and my husband work casually, so when we take time out to do this, neither of us are getting paid, so it adds further strain upon us,” Phoebe said.

“Many people with dental issues on Erub cut their gums with glass to release the blood and reduce swelling, they even try to pull loose teeth themselves, as they simply can't afford to make the trip to TI to visit the dentist. But I was not brought up like that, I want my children to be able to gain access to the dentist like any other kid in Australia.”

The first incident occurred when the Pilot family attempted to make the trip in January, en route the battery on the GPS failed leaving them to guess their direction, they ended up at Mount Adolphus Island when they realised they were lost and activated their EPRIB.

The second incident occurred March 26 when they headed off in what they thought were good conditions. After passing Poruma Island the sea became very rough and tidal currents very strong. They consequently used up nearly all their fuel and reserves.

“Waves were two three metres high and three or four times my husband thought we would flip, I just held the kids tight and prayed, I thought we were going to drowned.”

When they tried to activate their EPIRB, it was faulty and spent the night in the boat as lightening struck around them. In the morning, with what little fuel they had left they managed to make it to Nagie, near St Pauls community. It was there with a mobile phone with a dying battery and sporadic signal, she managed to call for help to family.

By 4:30 in the afternoon Paul Ware from St Pauls VMR came out and rescued them, “I want to thank the Ware family for all their hospitality,” Phoebe said.

Phoebe admits that although she had a GPS, extra fuel, and an EPIRB, she did not have life jackets on board, something she has since purchased.

“When you are a parent and your children need medical help you do whatever it takes, but then when we have to risk our lives to do it and they look at you for protection when we in trouble on the water, it's a terrible feeling.”

Phoebe said that when Barrier Air were running that occasionally they got a mercy lift in empty flights for Kids to get medical help, but today the only option is the treacherous dinghy trip or the expense of flying.

“It's not good enough, Queensland Health told me that they are 'working on' the dental shortage on Erub, but I wonder how long that will take.”