Dover, Tenn.—The Stewart County Emergency Management/911 Communications Center is crediting two dispatchers and new technology with finding a Lexington man who was lost in the Land Between the Lakes recently while on a hunting trip.
Bobby Hayes became lost in the woods on a rainy and cold night and for over two hours, Hayes tried to find his way in the dark, cold and rain before he could walk to an area that had cell service.
He called 911 and Stewart County dispatchers Ashley Robinson and Tamara Hawkins answered his call.
Using RapidSOS technology, the dispatchers were able to determine the exact location from GPS information on Hayes’ cellular device. They quickly determined that he was on the North South trail in the Land Between the Lakes.
Units from Stewart County Fire Rescue, Stewart Co. EMS, and the US Forest Service were dispatched to Hayes’ location.
Dispatchers Robinson and Hawkins disconnected the call in order to save battery on his cell phone but instructed him to call 911 every 10 mins so they could check on him and provide updates to responders. They continued to relay location information to responding units who were able to easily locate Hayes and transport him out of the woods.
According to Stewart Co. EMA officials, Hayes would have likely succumb to hypothermia had he not been located.
Friday night, Hayes dropped by the Stewart Co. EMA/911 Center because he wanted to meet the heroes on the other end of the phone who kept him calm and directed help to him on that dark and cold evening. Officials said, “Dispatchers are often forgotten, but they are the true first responders. Thank you Ashley and Tamara for going above and beyond.”
