[TNham] WATE story on ham operator who helped in drowning

[Greg Williams]

Students reacted quickly and bravely in attempt to save classmate

May 1, 2004

By YVONNE NAVA
6 News Anchor/Reporter

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- In the moment tragedy struck a Vine Middle Magnet School
field trip to the Smokies there was confusion and a breakdown in
communication. Cell phones do not work in the area.

But two students did their best to help their classmate, Christopher
Drinkard.

For as long as eighth-grader Jordan Webb can remember, he's always been
interested in amateur radios. He took with him an HT, or Handy Talkie, on
the field trip and it lived up to its name Friday.

"I said, 'Break from KI4AVG,' which means theres a life threatening
emergency, somebody please respond," Jordan explains.

Another amateur radio operator responded and called emergency crews.

By that time, Zach Hubbs had already jumped in the water to help Christopher
Drinkard.

"He was panicking, kind of pulling me under," Zach said. "And  was holding
onto him, trying to keep him up. The teachers came and they tried to help."

Zach says it all happened so fast. One moment students were playing in the
water and swimming. The next, "I was up on the rock looking down on him. I
was maybe 3-5 feet away from him and I saw him bobbing up and down, kind of
struggling to stay up."

According to Zach, the water was shallow in some places. Other places it was
about 5-6 feet deep. But the strong current kept pulling Christopher closer
to the waterfall.

"His eyes were open. I mean, he was panicking, but he really wasn't saying
much of anything," said Zach.

For Zach and Jordan, Friday was a test of instinct. They say they'd do it
again if they had to.

"I was kind of relieved that somebody heard me," Jordan said. "I tried my
hardest and I wish it was more."

At a similar school field trip to Abrams Falls last year, students also
swam. There were no problems. Students say a teacher was also swimming in
the water.

School officials say permission to swim was not mentioned on the permission
slip.