Stranded by a Kangaroo, Embraced by a Town

French Travelers Find a Second Home in Nannup"

From Western Australia comes a tale of fortunate misfortune, where two French road-trippers found an unexpected “second home” in a small town.

Nannup, with its 1,500 residents, rallied to assist Melina Gitton and Florian Crepinior after they collided with a kangaroo just four hours into their planned epic road trip, 135 miles south of Perth. The crash wrecked the front-left side of their uninsured Suzuki, which had consumed most of their travel budget, leaving the car undriveable and their dream holiday in tatters.

“I think without this kangaroo, we would never have discovered Nannup. We were unlucky, but in that bad luck, we were so fortunate,” Mr. Crepinior reflected. “I’ll remember this for the rest of my life.”

Locals quickly stepped in, towing the car and bringing the couple to the home of Kate and Craig Jenkins, who welcomed them for three weeks, including over Easter. Word of the “Frenchies” spread, and the town showered them with warmth, well-wishes, and donations to repair the car.

The Parisians, unaccustomed to such hospitality, joined their hosts at local sports events and bonded with the Jenkins family. Though not mechanics, Florian and Craig tackled the car repairs together, with Nannup’s local mechanic finishing the job.

“They figured it out despite never having done it before,” Ms. Jenkins told ABC News Australia. As the Suzuki rolled back onto the road, Kate and Craig’s children suggested a sign for Nannup: “Travelers are welcome to crash here.”

Click here for source.