Stay away from the falling coconuts

On Saturday a relative of my housekeeper came to my house to tell me that Fatuma had been hit by a coconut. Fortunately not on her head, but on her shoulder.

Nevertheless, she was seriously injured and in pain. He asked for 5000 TSH (about 5 dollars) for her to see a doctor and to buy some painkillers.

In East Africa people do die in relatively significant numbers each year from falling coconuts hitting them on the head. Coconuts can weigh up to four kilos and may fall 25 meters with an impact velocity of 80 km/h - resulting in a force greater than a tonne.

Think about that the next time you relax under a palm tree. I know I will.