Harrisburg, Illinois Resident Honored with VITATM Wireless Samaritan Award

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Jul 24, 2012, 12:04 ET

WASHINGTON, July 24, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- David Murphy's ingenuity, resourcefulness and a cellphone helped him save a life as a tornado ripped through Harrisburg, Illinois on Leap Day 2012. Murphy was honored for his lifesaving efforts with a VITA™ Wireless Samaritan Award at the 18^th Annual Achievement Awards dinner July 23 by The Wireless Foundation and CTIA-The Wireless Association®.

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Murphy was working his early morning shift at a retail store when a deadly tornado (EF-4) directly landed in Harrisburg. A donut delivery driver and his truck were lifted out of the store's loading dock and thrown into a nearby pond. Several people called 911, but local emergency responders were overwhelmed by the devastation caused by the tornado and were unable to assist. Ignoring the danger to his own safety, Murphy used his cellphone's light to find the injured and barely conscious truck driver. Murphy, along with a few others, carefully placed the man onto a pallet and drove him to a nearby hospital.

"While we would never recommend anyone put themselves in harm's way, David selflessly ignored the danger he faced to help save someone else's life. David's ingenious idea to use his cellphone's light to find the truck driver helped save the man's life. I am pleased to present David with a VITA Wireless Samaritan Award," said Steve Largent, President of The Wireless Foundation and President and CEO of CTIA-The Wireless Association.

VITA Wireless Samaritan Awards are presented annually to recipients who put safety first and use wireless to help others in need. With more than 400,000 wireless phone calls made to 911 every day, the awards also reinforce the crucial role wireless technology plays in emergencies. The Wireless Foundation and CTIA-The Wireless Association selected Murphy and eight other VITA Wireless Samaritan Award recipients from across the nation for their use of wireless technology to save lives, stop crime and help in other emergency situations.

CTIA-The Wireless Foundation (www.wirelessfoundation.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to developing and supporting initiatives that use wireless technology to help American communities. The Foundation's innovative programs benefit consumers in areas such as education, healthcare, safety and the environment. As part of its Annual Achievement Awards, the Foundation recognizes VITA™ Wireless Samaritans and honors the best of our nation's leadership, its youth and its scholars. The Foundation was formed by CTIA-The Wireless Association® member companies in 1991.

SOURCE CTIA-The Wireless Foundation