[TNham] ARRL: Young Ham Aids Effort to Save Drowning Classmate

[Greg Williams]

http://www.remote.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/05/03/100/?nc=1

NEWINGTON, CT, May 3, 2004--Jordan Webb, KI4AVG, had a feeling he should
take his handheld 2 meter transceiver along on the field trip.

Webb, 13, was on a trip April 30 with his eighth-grade class to remote
Abrams Falls in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee when, while swimming, Vine
Middle Magnet School classmate Christopher Drinkard was pulled under the
water of Cades Cove by strong currents from the falls. Webb and another
classmate, Zach Hubbs, jumped into the water to help Drinkard when Webb
remembered he had his radio in his backpack, according to reports from
several Knoxville television stations.

Tennessee Assistant Section Manager David Bower, K4PZT, said, "This part of
the Smoky Mountains is in an area where cell telephones typically do not
work. Ham radio was the means used to request help when this emergency first
happened."

Webb alerted a teacher that he had his radio and if he could get to high
enough ground, he might be able to get a signal out. Webb scrambled up a
hill and was able to make contact with Jim Bond, K6SPY, of Knoxville, said
Joe Campbell, KG4UJC. Bond called emergency services and alerted authorities
to the situation. As a result, EMS personnel were able to respond relatively
quickly to the desolate area when it would have taken much longer if someone
had to hike out of the area to reach authorities. Unfortunately, despite
rescue workers' quick response, Drinkard did not survive.

A ham for about one year, Webb is a member of Anderson County ARES, the
Radio Amateur Club of Knoxville and several other Amateur Radio
organizations around the Knoxville area, said Anderson County ARES Emergency
Coordinator Jeff Yawn, KF4UVT. "He has spent Kid's Day in my shack and is a
fine, upstanding young man," Yawn said. "I know he did all he could to help
his friend."
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Gregory S. Williams
Webmaster
This Week in Amateur Radio
k4hsm@twiar.org
http://www.twiar.org
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