Phone credited for survival

Charmaine Scott praised Masterton emergency services for her rescue after she was involved in a crash on January 17. PHOTO/FILE

MARCUS ANSELM
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A Wairarapa crash victim has thanked smartphone technology and diligent work from emergency services for saving her life.

Charmaine Scott, 46, escaped the crash off Masterton Stronvar Rd on January 17 with severe bruising and concussion after a rescue by fire, police and ambulance officers.

She alerted emergency services about the crash herself, using a setting on her smart phone to contact 111.

After she was found and rescued, she was airlifted to Palmerston North Hospital where she was treated for her injuries.

The car broke through the roadside fence and down a paddock. It then broke through a second fence and was only stopped from falling further down a deep gully by a fallen log.

She was trapped in the car and not visible from the road and had no phone reception.

However, she had used a setting on her Apple iPhone which allowed her to set up an auto call, which will work with no phone reception and with all service providers.

Scott said the system allows users to set up emergency contacts and important information such as medication, allergies, height, weight, age, and an emergency contact person with phone number and address.

This was all information which will make the job far easier for emergency services, especially if you are unconscious, Scott said.

“It’s just critical in the country,” she said. “Otherwise I would not have been found.

“I feel so blessed. The police, fire and ambulance do so well for the Wairarapa community. I’ve met them and said ‘thank you’. I owe them my life.”

“They were extremely kind, professional and are credits to their professions and the Masterton community.”

Scott said she had organised the farmers fence to be fixed.

She was discharged from hospital on Saturday and is recuperating at her home near Masterton.