Nannup rallies to help stranded French backpackers after kangaroo crash delays road trip
The French backpackers did not know then that Nannup, 270 kilometres south of Perth, would become their home for the next 23 days.
Or that locals would rally behind them by offering support, shelter, and even fixing their damaged car.
"It was four hours [into our trip] and it was dark already and we hit a roo," Ms Gitton said.
"The kangaroo crossed the road and that was it. It was really scary."
Their newly-purchased car was wrecked, underinsured, and the couple had nowhere to go.
Fortunately, help was not too far away.
The pair were taken to the home of Kate and Craig Jenkins who lived a couple of kilometres away.
The couple spent Easter with the Jenkins family, attended local sport and became fast friends with their Australian host family.
In a town of about 1,500 people it did not take long for word to spread about the stranded "Frenchies".
The community spirit from Nannup locals was not something the Parisian couple had ever experienced before.
"It was crazy to see how many people wanted to help us with donations," Ms Gitton said.
"When we went to the town and the church a lot of people were just like 'oh, you're the French people'. It was really nice to see. We got a lot of love messages and a lot of help."
Mr Crepinior said he was blown away by the kindness of strangers.
"We have never met those people and they're just helping us," he said.
"I think without this kangaroo we would never know about Nannup. We were unlucky, but in this unlucky we were lucky.
"Until the end of my life, for sure, I will never forget that."
While a three-week homestay was not what Kate and Craig Jenkins had expected, they were more than happy to help.
"The car was not drivable, the whole front was smashed in," Ms Jenkins said.
"They were in a bit of a pickle really and they were stranded at our place. They had used most of their money buying this car.
She said her husband, despite not being a mechanic or a panelbeater, helped Mr Crepinior fix the car.
"Neither of them had done it before but they worked it out together. Then what they couldn't figure out our local mechanic in Nannup fixed up the last few bits," Ms Jenkins said.
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