Suicidal woman, 23, saved by 999 operators after calling Surrey in the UK rather than Surrey in BC

[cybervampira]

Suicidal woman, 23, in Canada is saved by 999 operators 5,000 miles away on Christmas Day | Daily Mail Online

A suicidal woman in Canada was saved by a festive miracle after a 999 operator 5,000 miles away in the UK picked up the phone to the troubled caller.

The desperate victim, based in the city of Surrey in Canada, mistakenly made a cry-for-help to police in Surrey, UK.

The 23-year-old was kept talking on the line by the compassionate call handler in Guilford while colleagues raced to make contact with a Canadian police woman, who was working on a foreign attachment at the time in Surrey, UK.

Map above shows where both Surrey in Canada is located, as well as Surrey in the UK

PC Antoinette Rowe from Toronto saved the victims life by alerting police in Canada that there was a suicidal woman in need of their help.

PC Rowe had been staying with another UK police operator and UK-based school friend Vanessa Reynolds over Christmas when the incident occurred.

After fellow call operator Ellie Benson had kept the line open with the 23-year-old during a tense 30-minute exchange, PC Rowe called her Vancouver counterparts - more than ten hours away by plane - to alert them to the emergency.

[...]

 

[musicaljoke]

Nice teamwork!

 

[flute4peace]

I don’t quite understand how this happened?

 

[JDG]

Distressed person called wrong Surrey Police. The officer then alerted the proper Surrey Police Dept. and THEY saved her. Multiple phone calls.

These types of calls are handled fairly frequently. It just involves reaching the local detachment of the proper Police Service.

Well done to everyone.

 

[eucalyptuz]

I don’t quite understand how this happened?

Yes...seems to be quite a loopy situation...I found a report that was a bit clearer that seemed to indicate that it was some kind of UK-based social media hotline that was contacted by with women via a post or message: Surrey Police help woman in distress in Canada on Christmas morning
The report ends with the samaritans hotline number but they also seem to have an active FB page. https://www.facebook.com/

 

[flute4peace]

Distressed person called wrong Surrey Police. The officer then alerted the proper Surrey Police Dept. and THEY saved her. Multiple phone calls.

These types of calls are handled fairly frequently. It just involves reaching the local detachment of the proper Police Service.

Well done to everyone.

I do understand that part, but I don’t understand how her call ended up in another country. Here in the US when someone calls 911, the call automatically goes to the nearest 911 dispatch center. How does it work in Canada? Do they have an automatic emergency # system like our 911, or would she have had to look up the number for the police? And how does one make an international call accidentally? Aren’t there extra steps involved in calling another country?

Please pardon my ignorance *embarrassed*

 

[eucalyptuz]

I do understand that part, but I don’t understand how her call ended up in another country. Here in the US when someone calls 911, the call automatically goes to the nearest 911 dispatch center. How does it work in Canada? Do they have an automatic emergency # system like our 911, or would she have had to look up the number for the police? And how does one make an international call accidentally? Aren’t there extra steps involved in calling another country?

Please pardon my ignorance *embarrassed*

I’m only guessing from the info but from what I can see the Samaritans monitor their feed on the FB and if some reaches out via a post or message they can ask for a number and counsellor can call them... I think the initial reaching out was on social media and not by phone... maybe there will be clearer reportage to come
Bravo to great Commonwealth teamwork xxx

 

[flute4peace]

I’m only guessing from the info but from what I can see the Samaritans monitor their feed on the FB and if some reaches out via a post or message they can ask for a number and counsellor can call them... I think the initial reaching out was on social media and not by phone... maybe there will be clearer reportage to come
Bravo to great Commonwealth teamwork xxx

Ahh, now that would make much more sense.

However it happened, it is truly a miracle and fantastic teamwork between the agencies.

 

[JDG]

In Canada, we also have 911. In England, the emergency number is 999.

The CBC did a better article, she did go via FB but after looking at their page I'm not sure how it worked.

They don't pick up messages 24/7 and their 'quick' number is 101?

Oh well, alls well that ends well.

 

[LadyL]

WTG all who helped!

 

[musicaljoke]

Did she call a suicide hotline that she looked up for Surrey and ended up with a UK number? It wouldn't surprise me. I had to call a suicide hotline for a client who I believed was in a suicidal crisis, and I discovered how difficult it is to get connected to the correct number (Ontario). I called 911, and was given the number of a hospital, two hours away, which I called, whereupon I was told to call 911. Next call ended up directed to a hospital four hours away. The suicide line at that hospital was a councilling office with a recorded message to leave a number.

If a suicidal person needs to navigate the phone system in these parts, then I do believe they'd be dead and buried before they got a response. Where's that Surrey number? I think I shall keep it on file. Heh!

 

[JDG]

Crisis hotlines (Ontario) are super busy. They keep talking to people for quite some time so their lines are always jammed. I used to work there, its not a fun position and you can't hurry people who are suicidal.