Video: Notts TV’s Kate Chaplin speaks to Darren Yeomans about what happened
A phone company has launched an urgent investigation after a Nottingham man’s mobile failed to call 999 as his partner lay on the kitchen floor fitting.
Darren Yeomans from Sherwood tried to call emergency services on his Smart Ultra Six, Vodafone’s own smartphone, but was unable to get through.
He managed to get through to emergency services by using his partner’s phone.
Mr Yeomans said that his partner’s life was put in ‘serious danger’ and both fear that more people who have that phone may also have faulty software which they believe prevented them from calling 999 on Sunday night.
I was unable to dial the emergency number to get my partner help
He said: “I discovered that my phone was unable to dial the emergency number I needed to get some medical help out to him.
“Luckily, I had his phone available and was able to use that to contact the ambulance service.
“I’ve had my phone for a year and a half and I’ve never had to use that number before so you just think that it works.
“You can still make emergency calls when you’ve got no signal so it was incredibly stressful.”
Mr Yeomans phone simply says ‘add to contacts’ when a user enters 999 and presses dial, and fails to start a call.
Most smartphones and networks are designed to allow and connect 999 calls instantly whoever is using the phone and regardless of whether the phone is locked.
Vodafone said it will look into the problem.
A spokesperson for the company said: “We will investigate this issue as a matter of urgency.
“However, I can confirm that 999 calls are free from any device on the Vodafone UK network.”
