Fallen from heaven: how African survived, after flying 9000 km to London on the chassis of the plane

Poverty and hopelessness force the people to flee, in spite of mortal danger. A stowaway from South Africa survived, after flying 9000 km to London at -60 C. He traveled, clinging for landing gear. His comrade could not stand the rough ride and fell in just a few minutes before landing at Heathrow airport, fell to his death. Surviving African was in a coma for six months, but came to himself and told the sad story of escaping poverty in their home country.

30 years of Kabaka Themba (Themba Cabeka) stayed there for 11 hours, holding on to the wheel plane. So the man traveled from South Africa to London in 2015. Illegal passenger found at Heathrow airport. He was in a coma for 6 months after deadly journey. When the African came to, I was told that together with him in the UK tried to fly his best friend, but could not resist and fell from a height of 1 500 m.

So Themba and his friend, Carlito Vale (Vale Carlito), went to his first journey by plane. They were trying to escape from poverty. Unfortunately, Carlito could not resist and fell just a few minutes before landing. His body was found in the installation for the air conditioning of one of the office blocks in Richmond, 10 km from Heathrow airport.

30-year-old Temba recalls how he saw land, vehicles and small figures of people. Then he lost consciousness. His friend, Carlito, was still alive. Just waking up from a coma in the hospital, the fugitive knew that his best friend died.

Since then, it took five and a half years. Themba changed his name to Justin, received an official refugee status and now lives in Liverpool. Doctors believe that the man managed to survive due to the fact that subzero temperatures have kept it in a state of "suspended animation". At the lowered body temperature of vital organs earned in "standby mode" using less oxygen.

The surviving stowaway still feels guilty that he survived while his friend died. When Temba slightly recovered, he went to the grave of a comrade. He considered him as his sworn brother.

Departing forever from their homes, people try to take the most necessary. Photographer from Basel, Gabriel hill, invited the refugees to his Studio and took pictures with the most important to them things taken from the house.