A recent incident involving a US Navy employee making a wrong phone call unexpectedly resulted in saving the life of an elderly woman miles away. The employee mentioned that he dialed the “correct” wrong number.
According to a press release on December 23rd on the US Navy’s website, Anderson (Steve Anderson) is the Safety Manager at NAVFAC Atlantic, a Navy facility engineering command based in Virginia. One of his many responsibilities is to review employee applications for overseas travel.
Due to missing information in an applicant’s form, Anderson intended to call them for clarification but accidentally reversed two digits in the phone number, reaching Belle Cherry’s residence in Pennsylvania, who answered the call.
Anderson described Cherry on the phone as sounding weak and distressed. “She told me, ‘I’m not the person you’re looking for, but I need help because I fell, got injured, and can only use one arm.'”
Concerned that Cherry may have had a stroke, Anderson asked her several questions about her condition and tried to comfort her. Initially reluctant to provide information as she didn’t know him, Cherry eventually agreed to share her son Allan’s phone number. However, when Anderson called, it went to voicemail. He then obtained phone numbers of other acquaintances of Cherry, which reassured him about her mental state being intact despite physical injuries.
Anderson urged Cherry to provide her full name and address so he could call 911 to send rescue personnel to her home. After multiple conversations, Anderson gained Cherry’s trust, gathered the necessary information, and contacted rescue services to assist her.
Cherry was later taken to the hospital for treatment and has since recovered. Anderson and Allan have spoken several times and plan to meet in the future.
In response to Anderson’s aid to the stranger Cherry, Captain Ben Miller, the Deputy Commander of NAVFAC Atlantic, expressed no surprise. He praised Anderson, stating, “Regardless of the situation, he refuses to give up on anyone, making him an extraordinary hero who does the right thing when others might walk away.”
Allan expressed gratitude, acknowledging that if Anderson hadn’t persisted and stayed with his mother, he didn’t know how long she would have been lying there.
Anderson mentioned that he usually writes down phone numbers before calling and rarely makes mistakes. Perhaps it was fate that led him to dial the “correct” wrong number before reaching Cherry.