MURFREESBORO, Tennessee — iPhone’s Siri saved a teen after the truck he had jacked up for repairs fell on him:
Sam Ray feared “this could be the end” of his life when his truck toppled on top of him while he worked on it alone July 2 at his Maxwell Street home.
Thanks to I-phone assistant SIRI and a team of emergency responders and medical staff, Ray, 18, survived.
While trying to free himself, he heard the Apple IPhone assistant SIRI speaking and after five attempts, SIRI called 911. Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office dispatcher Christina Lee answered, “911. Do you need emergency assistance?”
“I’m stuck under my truck,” Ray replied as he gave his address that led emergency responders to rescue him.
While Lee kept reassuring Ray for seven minutes, other sheriff’s dispatchers notified deputies, Walter Hill Volunteer Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services who sent paramedics and contacted LifeFlight. Ray was rescued and flown by LifeFlight to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.
The grateful Ray met and thanked the Rutherford County team, LifeFlight and medical staff during a ceremony at the LifeFlight launch pad Friday in Nashville.
Attending the ceremony were Lee, EMS communications dispatchers Carrie Fitzgerald and Todd Riddle who handled the radio dispatch, Kenny Moffitt, who coordinated with LifeFlight, and LifeFlight registered nurses and EMTs Kirk Krokosky and Tim Hurst, who treated him on LifeFlight en route to Vanderbilt.
Other EMS employees included dispatcher Kayla Ferrick and paramedics Beau Williams, Dustin Graves, Special Operations Response Team paramedics Phillip Nichols and Dallas McLemore and Supervisor Mike Jones.
Moffitt described the response as a “team effort.”
Dr. Richard Miller, Vanderbilt’s trauma chief and Ray’s doctor, said Ray suffered broken ribs and a torn and bruised kidney when the truck weighing about 5,000 pounds crushed him.
“Fortunately, his injuries were not life-threatening, but they could have been,” Dr. Miller said, recommending other people should not work underneath vehicles alone.
Ray said he struggled to breathe because the transmission landed on his chest. He heard Lee ask about the type of emergency and did his best to let her know he was stuck. He kept shouting his address so Lee would send help.
“I heard her say, ‘Help is right around the corner,’” Ray remembered.
Lee said she just wanted Ray to know help was on the way. When fellow dispatcher Bobbie Jackson told her firefighters were nearby, she told Ray.
“I just wanted him to have reassurance,” Lee said.
Very seldom do dispatchers know the outcome of a call because they must answer another call for help but Lee was glad Ray survived.
Ray’s parents, Dusty and Laura, said their son was turning blue when emergency help arrived. They termed the responders as “life-savers.” At the time, his mother sent prayer requests on Facebook that reached Africa where her nephew is a missionary.
Ray graduated from Daniel 1 Academy in Cookeville and plans to attend Tri-Star Baptist College in Walls, Miss., where he is considering being a minister or perhaps a nurse.
“It’s very humbling,” Ray said of his experience. “I thank God I’m here.”
Sam Ray meets dispatchers Todd Riddle and Christiana Lee, who were part of a team saving his life.
The team helping save Sam Ray’s life are from left, LifeFlight RN/EMT Tim Hurst, Sheriff’s dispatcher Christina Lee, Emergency Medical Services paramedics Kenny Moffitt, Carrie Fitzgerald and Todd Riddle and LifeFlight RN/EMT Kirk Krokosky. -Murfressboro Police
