Panic mayday call ch. 16: audio

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Adam Bolonsky
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Panic mayday call ch. 16: audio

Post by Adam Bolonsky »

The audio on this channel 16 VHF mayday call is frightening and, I think, instructive.

A scuba diver has slipped below the surface in Fishers Island Sound near Ram Island. The topside caller, the diver's boyfriend, is making an understandably frantic mayday on channel 16 after noting that the diver hadn’t time to reinsert her respirator.

He makes the call while hauling anchor and while trying to track the bubble trail.

I think the audio is worth listening to despite - or, perhaps better, because of - its garbled distortion, repeats, and confusion and miscommunication.

The distortion, known as clipping, makes the watchstander’s job very difficult.

It’s only when a nearby boat intervenes on the call that the situation - although by then an active Coast Guard rescue - becomes fully clarified.

The case ended tragically.

I added subtitles to the audio:
http://paddlingtravelers.blogspot.com/2 ... st-us.html
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