Ham radio operators help direct remote rescue
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October 03. 2005 Windrock Mountain, Anderson County (WVLT) - Over the weekend, a potential life and death saga played out on top of Windrock Mountain in Anderson County after an ATV spun out of control and flipped down a hillside, severely injuring its driver. Without dependable cell phone service, there wasn't a good way to communicate with paramedics on the phone. As WVLT Volunteer TV's Eric Waddell reports, amateur radio operators may have saved the day. "We get into this as a hobby, but when the emergency's come all of the hobby quits and we get the job done, says Kevin Rice, call sign- KG4LGL. Practically in the shadows of the giant windmills on top of Windrock Mountain in Anderson County, an ATV rider named Eddie Cascuda was in a devastating crash. Brakes failing to stop him, Eddie fell nearly 85 feet smashing into this dead tree. Breaking several bones and fading in and out of consciousness. "As soon as I rounded the corner I could hear him screaming in pain. I pulled up to the side of him and tried to find out what was going on, says Scott Wyrick, call sign- KD4CWB. Cell phone service in the remote mountain area is chancy at best. Wyrick and others tried and failed to calls through to 911 long enough to get help there. Wyrick happened to have his hand held ham radio. He called for help. An operator in Oak Ridge heard his call. "He needed me to get on line with the Anderson County EMS which I did. He was on his portable radio and I was here on my home station, says Rice. Rice through his unit at home patched a signal through a repeater tower in Sevierville. Through which Wyrick up on the mountain could communicate with 911. "The cell phones just weren't getting it and the 911 dispatcher was getting conflicting information. That is when I grabbed the hand held, says Wyrick. Wyrick an avid ATVer on the mountain along with help from Rice in the valley below were able to get directions to bring LifeStar in. Transporting Eddie Cascuda to safety at the UT Medical Center before he slipped into shock. We spoke with Eddie Cascuda Monday afternoon on the phone, he has several broken bones. He thanks all of the people that helped save his life, especially the ham radio operators. Hams involved with ATV rescue, Oct. 2, 2005
KB4ITS Larry Hensley
KG4LGL Kevin Rice
KD4CWB Scott Wyrick
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