Colin Wilson has been a radio ham (an amateur radio operator) for most of his life, but little did he imagine that he’d be one of the first people to receive a distress call from Nepal when the deadly earthquake hit on April 25.
As the 61-year-old from S.B. Messines explains, “when the earthquake hit, all means of communication were lost but one – radio”.
That’s how Satish Kharel, a fellow ‘ham’ from Nepal, was able to contact Colin and Israel’s Amir Bazak and appeal for help.
Thanks to their chats, Kharel was able to ask for emergency supplies, tents, blankets, water, food, medical supplies and radio equipment that were urgently needed. The materials, donated from all over the globe, were put on the first available flights.
Colin told us that because of the “impromptu communications, the whereabouts of many missing persons was established and may have saved many lives”.
Since then, he has teamed up with ‘hams’ from all over to set up an international emergency organisation so that they can be ready to act in future emergencies.
The group has already started “evaluating events” and will soon put forward a plan for procedures, training and accessibility of members.
