May 22 rescue in San Diego County aided by Ham radio

[Rob]

May 22 rescue in San Diego County aided by Ham radio

From the July/August 2009 Issue of THE CREST SUN
(Note: Crest is located east of El Cajon in San Diego County.)

"Injured Crest Resident Rescued with Neighbor's Help
By Roger Mullins (KF6UPP)

Friday afternoon May 22nd Crest resident Sylvia Binley was walking her two
Labrador pups on the rugged trail that runs south from Crest down to the Singing
Hills Golf Course. About a mile south of South Lane, in an area called "Figure
8's", she slipped and fell breaking two bones in her lower leg just above the
ankle.

While still holding her two dogs managed to crawl about 100 yards back up
the steep trail. She was there for a while before Crest resident, John Katchur,
walking his sheep dog Harry, hiked down the trail. John said he was just about
to turn around to head back up the trail when Harry heard Sylvia and led John to
her location.

John had a cell phone with him so he tried to call 911. Because
there was a brush fire a few miles away, near Willow Glen, 911 was busy and put
him on hold.

Sylvia gave John my name so he called directory assistance, got my
number then called me and told me where he and Sylvia were. I grabbed some water
and headed down the trail in my Jeep.

For those not familiar with the trail, it is very steep, slick and highly
eroded. The only vehicles that can navigate it are bikes and 4 Wheel Drive
vehicles. When I reached Sylvia and John, Sylvia was sitting, in obvious great
pain with John supporting her sitting position while trying to hold the three
dogs.

We still couldn't get through to 911 so I used the HAM radio in my Jeep to
make an emergency call through the Monument Peak HAM radio repeater.
HAM operator Tom Carmody (KJ6TDC) in Ramona heard my emergency call and offered
to relay information to emergency services. Tom stayed on the air with me
throughout the incident.

Full story:
http://forums.qrz.com/showthread.php?t=209854