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<H1>Amateur radio handheld saves canoeist</H1>
<P><STRONG><FONT face=Verdana size=2>Scottish radio ham Daniel Small, MM3NMI,
tells Southgate News how amateur radio proved to be a real
'life-saver'.</FONT></STRONG></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>Daniel recounts his ordeal:<BR><BR><IMG height=13
src="http://www.southgatearc.org/images/navigation/quote_start.gif" width=24
align=left>My friend and I were out canoeing on the west coast of Scotland, just
off a town called Ardrossan. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>Everything was going well for the first 30 minutes or so,
but then I relised that I had taken on a considerable amount of water and my
first thoughts were to head for the beach.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>But, after changing my course to head for the beach, I was
getiing hit with waves side-on to my canoe and they were starting to tip me
slightly and causing the canoe to fill with water from the sides. This happened
a few times until the canoe was completely filled with water. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>I got out the canoe and swam to a small island about 30
metres away, the small island was about 3/4 of a mile. When I reached the island
I found the canoe on the rocks and got my ruck sack out of the back of it.
</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>I got my mobile phone out, but that was water damaged, so
I had to resort to the use of my VHF 2M radio, a Puxing PX-777, which I had only
purchased the previous week, and made a call on the local channel, 145.525.
</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>I called my friend <STRONG>Peter, MM3YFT</STRONG> who was
already at the local harbour and asked that he look for someone with a boat to
come and provide assistance, but no-one could be found. </FONT></P>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=250 align=right border=0>
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<TR>
<TD><FONT face=Verdana><IMG height=185
src="http://www.southgatearc.org/images/people/mm0cin.jpg" width=250
align=right border=1></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD>
<DIV align=center><FONT face=Verdana color=#666666 size=1>Rick
MM0CIN</FONT></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>So I got in touch with<STRONG> Rick, MM0CIN</STRONG> who
made a 999 call to Clyde Coastguard. They in turn contacted Troon Lifeboat and
Ardrossan Coastguard team.<BR></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>I was stranded on the rocks for about 30 minutes before
the lifeboat managed to reach my location. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>During that time, I kept close contact on 145.525 with all
the local guys from my area - including <STRONG>Arthur MM0DHQ</STRONG>, who was
about 2 miles away at Saltcoats Harbour - who were talking me through things to
do. <IMG height=13
src="http://www.southgatearc.org/images/navigation/quote_end.gif"
width=24><BR><BR><EM><STRONG>Daniel, MM3NMI</STRONG></EM> </FONT></P><FONT
face=Verdana>
<HR align=center width="50%" noShade>
</FONT>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>Thankfully, a happy ending to a story that once again
demonstrates the usefulness of amateur radio in emergencies.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>Fontes: </FONT><A
href="http://www.pwpublishing.ltd.uk/" target=_blank><FONT
face=Verdana>Practical Wireless</FONT></A><FONT face=Verdana> e Southgate
News.</FONT></P></BODY></HTML>