New Repeater Saves a Life

In May of 2003, Matt Lane, N7XAY gave his life in a search and rescue mission. Recently, the Matt Lane memorial repeater — N7XAY — saved a life in its very first SAR operation and Net.

Can you imagine that our repeater goes into operation on Friday evening and then tonight (Sunday), just before our very first Net on the 145.190 Matt Lane memorial repeater I get a call from the SAR unit to stand by for a mission at 1750 hours. I turn the Net over to Edison N7GCW, and start packing for a lost young man, but first I decide to place the Ferry CARES members on standby. A couple of SAR members dispatch with snow machines to Gold Creek Road, about 20 miles South of Republic off of HWY 21. It was reported that a young care giver had gotten stuck in the snow somewhere West of HWY 21 on BIA Road 64.

During our Net at 1800 hours Denny Hughes KE7TUQ comes on the Matt Lane repeater to check in and hears about our standby status, otherwise he may have not ever heard about it until later.

I stationed myself on Cemetery Hill just above Republic in order to be in a good spot to hear all the repeaters. We notify Dave Klimas, N7DRK Stevens ARES EC and Loren Holthaus, WZ7T Okanagan ARES EC (R-7 DEC) and Gordon WA7LNC (EWA SEC) that Ferry CARES has been placed on standby.

At about 2030 hours a Republic Police unit comes up and parks beside me. Denny, KE7TUQ asks if we think it might be a good idea for him to come in from the West side in Okanagan County, since his home is not far from where a Forest Service Road intersects with Gold Creek Road. I ask the Policeman to relay to the FC SO Dispatch that we have an Okanagan County SAR and ARES member standing by to drive in from the West and their response is that it will be up to us to make that decision. That was easy. We relay to Denny to proceed and his XYL, Jeannie, KE7TUP (also an EMT) stands by on the Matt Lane Repeater in case we lose Denny. She gets out the maps and zeros in on where he needs to go, while Shawn Dunbar, KB7UZB is checking his maps in Republic.

Somewhere along the route Denny runs out of plowed road and continues in 4 WD onto one foot of snow on an unplowed, badly rutted road, checking for tracks. He then has to switch to the Tunk Mountain 145.45 repeater. We were able to continue monitoring both repeaters at this time and at just after 2200 hours, Denny KE7TUQ reported that he had discovered a car stuck in the snow, lights still on, with a 70 year old lady, suffering from hypothermia and stranded. She had been waiting for her care giver, the lost young man to come back with help. She had been in the car since 1400 hours Sunday and the back window of the car was broken out. The young man was found by Ferry County SAR to the east just before Denny found the lady. Denny called Jeannie to get the ambulance on it’s way from Tonasket while he placed the lady into his truck and started warming her up. She was dehydrated also and Denny gave her water to drink on the ride. Denny then had to back up the same road he came from for possibly a mile or two before he could find a place to safely turn around. At about 2250 hours, the ambulance met them near Aeneas Valley road and transported her in fair condition to the Tonasket Hospital.

All the while, ten Ferry CARES members stood by on the Matt Lane repeater helping relay and coordinate with the FC SO on the situation. We happily stood down at 2300 hours.

Matt Lane, N7XAY gave his life in May of 2003 in a SAR mission. Today, the Matt Lane repeater - N7XAY saved a life in its very first SAR operation and Net. Is there such a thing as Providence? Ferry CARES believes so.

Thanks to Steven County ARES members for standing by and for the Okanagan County ARES for their action.

My thanks to all the Ferry CARES members who went into action and made this happen. Also, our hat is off to Tim "The Repeater Tweaker" Holt, KD7ADG for getting the Matt Lane tuned like fine wine.

SOURCE: C. M Sam Jenkins KE7OIA via QRZ.com posted by KB7UZB