Simone Curati was forced to shelter under a bridge when storm hit Mildura

Italian visitor, Simone Curati, was forced to bunker down under the bridge in Mildura during a frightening storm. Watch the video.

A man who is tackling the Murray River in a kayak was forced to take cover under the bridge in Mildura when the storm rolled in last week.

Simone Curati, 31, came to Australia in 2020 from Italy to work in Western Australia. Now that Covid is over he is dedicating his time to travelling around Australia and learning more about the culture and landscape.

He is currently tackling a paddle down the Murray River, which began in Tintaldra, and last week got more than he bargained for when the storm cell rolled through Mildura and getting to shelter became a race against the weather. A race that he only half won.

“I was under the bridge when it first came in but then it got worse and I got very wet,” Simone said.

Simone Curati

He was forced to shelter under the bridge until the worst of the storm passed. He was scared that he would end up in the water with no one to help.

However, Simone said that even though the storm was an obstacle he loves the adventure and enjoys when mother nature has her say.

“This storm was bad but I have endured worse,” he said.

“And those challenges are a thing of the past now.”

He thanked the Mildura community for being so welcoming and for showing him the true Aussie spirit.

“When I arrived in Mildura, one man Geoff was playing violin in the park in front of the river, this was a beautiful welcome, and he came to me and we started to speak,” he said.

During his time in Mildura Simone said he was welcomed into family homes and members of the community were more than happy to help him find his way, providing him with maps and directions.

“I met Mike a good man. He gave me a big map and he gave me good information about next section and he was really nice,” Simone said.

“Everyone was just really friendly.”

After speaking to a work colleague last year the idea for the paddle was planted in Simone’s head. The goal of his paddle is to immerse himself in Australia and he said that Mildura was more than happy to help him achieve that goal.

Simone Curati

Simone Curati

“Paddling is a good way to enjoy the nature, do sport and have the opportunity to speak with local people in the village and know about the local culture,” he said.

“I kept thinking about this experience till one day I woke up and I decided to do it. And now I‘m here.”

“Also one night I was a guest in a houseboat for drinks after dinner. A man saw me near my kayak and he asked me my story and if I needed a shower, dinner or anything else. He was very nice,” Simone said.

“I found something special in the people that are living along Murray river. Hospitality is legendary in this part of the country.”

Simone is now in Renmark and plans to head towards Goolwa. Another two to three weeks of travel is in the plan for Simone before he heads off on his next adventure.