How Much is 'I'm going to go, I WILL call you back.' worth?

For a Family of Seven It Meant Their Communication Life Line Had Worked.

 

July 31, 2011 50 miles off the coast of Weeki Wachee FL. 

 

A satellite phone is often a suggested safety item for off-shore fishing expeditions and one that the Dutton family took to heart.

 

Five days prior to setting sail, Misty Dutton invested in an IsatPhone Pro satellite phone from GMPCS (www.gmpcs-us.com).  Although coming from an experienced sailing family she felt that the peace of mind, made the investment worth it.  Little did she know it would provide much more than that.

 

Fun Times

Five days after the purchase of the IsatPhone Pro from GMPCS, husband James Dutton took his brother in law, three children and two very close friends on a fishing trip 60 miles off the west coast of Florida.  Misty stayed home with their two year old, while the seven family members went off to enjoy their fishing trip.

 

The day started off uneventful on their 29’ boat. The kids joked about going on the water the same day that the Discovery Channel had finished airing their “Shark Week” specials and were able to pull up a 12’ nurse shark. 

 

The weather was perfect, the conversation was great, all-in-all there was no reason to believe the next few hours would test their captains’ preparedness.

 

Disaster Strikes But Being Prepared Makes a Difference 

At around mid-day, after being about 60 miles off the coast, they decided to head back to shore. After a few short miles James notices they had taken on water.  The cubby cabin was flooded and the boat began to capsize. 

 

A mayday call was put out using a VHF radio and everyone was told to jump overboard and swim away from the boat as quickly as possible.  Before going overboard himself James pressed the ‘911’ button on his SPOT GPS tracker, released a SART and grabbed his IsatPhone Pro. 

 

In the warm gulf waters, with a GPS and the IsatPhone Pro, James Dutton called his wife Misty. 

 

“At approximately 11:30 I received a call from my husband from THAT phone.” Misty tells us.  “I was panicked, of course, but managed to get his coordinates from him and contact the Coast Guard.”  With the IsatPhone Pro James was able to stay connected on the phone with his wife for 38 minutes.  With the reliable and clear voice quality Misty was able to confirm the coordinates and stay on the phone with her husband as she called the coast guard from her land-line.

 

The fishing vessel ‘Wing Shot’ was working approximately 4 miles away from the Duttons’ capsized boat when they received the VHF mayday.  The crew of the Wing Shot promptly pulled up their fishing equipment and answered the call.  While James was on the phone with Misty he saw the Wing Shot, flagged it down and was confidently able to tell his wife that their rescue boat had arrived.  James was able to end the call on his own accord saying: “I’m going to go, I will call you back.”

 

On board the Wing Shot the lucky seven began their return trip back to shore.  It was an emotional time for the crew of the Wing Shot, as well as the Dutton family and friends.

 

Are You Prepared?

David Bell, Manager Marine Solutions, has been working with boat owners for over a decade.  “We rarely think disaster will strike us but seasoned sailors know that when it does, your preparation is your only lifeline.”

 

Because of James Dutton’s fast actions of sending out a VHF mayday; pressing the ‘911’ emergency button on his SPOT GPS and having a SART on his boat the coast guard was alerted to his distress calls.  However it was the call to his wife on the IsatPhone Pro from GMPCS and Inmarsat that was able to give him and his wife peace of mind that everything was going to be okay.

 

“If anyone out there is contemplating the cost of this phone, I can tell you there is no amount too great, for seven lives!!”  says Misty  “Thank you so much, for your help during my purchase and for a product that contributed to saving the lives of my family!”

 

At GMPCS our mission is to help our valued clients “Communicate Anywhere.”  We are grateful to have played a small part in the Dutton’s lives.

 

For details marine solutions including tracking, data and voice communication tools please contact GMPCS at 1-888-664-6727 or contact@gmpcs-us.com

 

www.gmpcs-us.com