One Friday evening, May, her family and some friends were relaxing on a campsite in the Exmoor national park, Somerset.
May who is aged 12 has a history of epilepsy and she suddenly slipped into a fit. Her friends and family were quick to react to the situation and grabbed their mobile phones to call 999, but they weren't getting a signal from any of the networks.
As luck would have it one of May's friends was a licensed radio ham!!
G6ASK Jon like all good radio hams had his radio with him. Jon tried several repeaters on UHF and VHF but to no avail until he tried GB3WR.The repeater is about 40 miles from where they were and there was some higher ground in the way but never the less Jon managed to get a signal through from his handheld. He quickly switched to his Mobile radio as it was apparent that the signal was some what ropey.
Jon then called for emergency assistance and was answered by M6MGE Mike who was very calm and quickly rang 999.Mike with a very cool head took control of the situation and coordinated the response between the emergency operator and Jon on Exmoor. Within 3 minutes of Jon contacting Mike the ambulance service was on its way to help May.
First on the scene was the Fire Co Responder. Gary had been dispatched from Williston Fire Station, and on blue lights he was on the scene quite quickly given where they were. The Ambulance crew took a little longer as the nearest resource at that time was southbound on the M5 heading back to Tiverton when the call came in.
Jon and May's family would like to thank
Both Gary and the Ambulance crew
They were wonderful with May and the family. A credit to their professions.
M6MGE Mike.
I'm not sure how long Mike has been licensed but I have to say how incredibly impressed I was with his professionalism.(Mike was first licensed in 2012 having undertaken his Amateur
Radio Training with South Bristol Amateur Radio Club)
Jon has been licensed since 1981 and so he is a bit of an old hand at this. He has been involved with Raynet in the past and with the Ambulance service as a First Responder. And a radio ham to boot. You couldn't wish to have a better person around when things go wrong.
The story of May shows the importance of radio in our modem age. When all else fails amateur radio will still be there to help.
We at GB3WR and a lot of people that have been touched by May's story wish her well.
May who is aged 12 has a history of epilepsy and she suddenly slipped into a fit. Her friends and family were quick to react to the situation and grabbed their mobile phones to call 999, but they weren't getting a signal from any of the networks.
As luck would have it one of May's friends was a licensed radio ham!!
G6ASK Jon like all good radio hams had his radio with him. Jon tried several repeaters on UHF and VHF but to no avail until he tried GB3WR.The repeater is about 40 miles from where they were and there was some higher ground in the way but never the less Jon managed to get a signal through from his handheld. He quickly switched to his Mobile radio as it was apparent that the signal was some what ropey.
Jon then called for emergency assistance and was answered by M6MGE Mike who was very calm and quickly rang 999.Mike with a very cool head took control of the situation and coordinated the response between the emergency operator and Jon on Exmoor. Within 3 minutes of Jon contacting Mike the ambulance service was on its way to help May.
First on the scene was the Fire Co Responder. Gary had been dispatched from Williston Fire Station, and on blue lights he was on the scene quite quickly given where they were. The Ambulance crew took a little longer as the nearest resource at that time was southbound on the M5 heading back to Tiverton when the call came in.
Jon and May's family would like to thank
Both Gary and the Ambulance crew
They were wonderful with May and the family. A credit to their professions.
M6MGE Mike.
I'm not sure how long Mike has been licensed but I have to say how incredibly impressed I was with his professionalism.(Mike was first licensed in 2012 having undertaken his Amateur
Radio Training with South Bristol Amateur Radio Club)
Jon has been licensed since 1981 and so he is a bit of an old hand at this. He has been involved with Raynet in the past and with the Ambulance service as a First Responder. And a radio ham to boot. You couldn't wish to have a better person around when things go wrong.
The story of May shows the importance of radio in our modem age. When all else fails amateur radio will still be there to help.
We at GB3WR and a lot of people that have been touched by May's story wish her well.
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