Ham radio helps rescue hiker (Jul
21, 2005) -- When hiker Jason Jacks, KG6ZTR, of San Dimas, California,
became lost in heavy brush July 19 near Southern California's Mt Baldy,
he put out a call on the N6USO Sunset Ridge Repeater seeking help. Ron
Stucker, W6RJS, Richard Pauze, KG6VNC, Ken Harris, KG6YTZ, and others
radio amateurs collaborated to contact emergency personnel and relay
the information from Jacks. A call was made to the Los Angeles County
Sheriff's Department, which dispatched its Rescue Air-5
helicopter. Using his hand-held GPS unit, Jacks was able to provide his
coordinates to rescue personnel via ham radio. Repeater owner Burton
Brink, N6USO--an LA County Deputy Sheriff--heard the traffic and was
able to contact Rescue Air-5 via his sheriff's radio. Using
information the stranded hiker provided via ham radio, Brink was able
to help direct the pilot to Jacks' location. Approximately an hour
after the first call for help, Jacks was airlifted from the mountain to
safety. "Once again, Amateur Radio has come to the rescue, and this
shows how hams work together with emergency personnel to help one
another," said Brink. "Amateur Radio at its best!"
From the ARRL web site http://www.arrl.org