Crank-up mishap

[K7BG Matt Trott]

I thought I'd post this of yesterday evening in hopes it might help others
who "get in a hurry."

I was monitoring one of our local repeaters yesterday afternoon when a
scratchy signal came on. It was a ham calling for help. He was on his
crank-up tower attempting to repair his rotor. Another ham engaged him in
QSO before I could grab the mike and all listening soon learned that the
distressed ham had his foot caught in his crank-up tower. My guts started to
knot as I heard transmissions such as: "It's tearing my foot off" -- "I need
help fast.." --etc.

Well  the paramedics were summonsed via a 911 call as this ham was in a
rural location. His wife had been with him, but I'm not sure all the details
at this time. Apparently she was able to take some of the weight off his
foot in some manner. The good news is that before help arrived he was able
to free his foot and it looks like the damage is luckily only a badly
bruised foot and maybe some damaged pride.

This ham apparently thought his crank-up was all the way down before he
climbed it and so he didn't block it to be safe. He is VERY lucky his foot
is still attached to his leg. 

Crank-ups are MACHINES first and towers second. Give it the respect/fear it
deserves!

73, Matt--K7BG


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