It seems Twitter isn’t just for self-promotion and exhibitionist rants. It can actually save your neck if need be.
Literally.
It did for Leigh Fazzina, anyway, who sent a shout in the dark out to her 1,000-some Twitter followers asking for a 911 call — “I’ve had a serious injury and NEED Help!” From her mobile phone, the amateur cyclist who’d hit a rough patch during a race in unchartered Connecticut territory, posted her general location. Minutes later, six fans who’d never even met her had phoned in her rescue and an ambulance was on its way, stabilizing her broken neck and getting her to safety.
Short of blogger Perez Hilton’s pitiful, passive aggressive tweets for help after allegedly being attacked by Black Eyed Pea Will.i.am a couple of years ago, it might just be the first case of the social network saving a life. While in his case he could have easily called for help, Fazzina had no cell reception off the course where she’d crashed. Online service, however, did connect.
Good to know that there are, in fact, cyber-heroes among us.
Photo from leighfazzina.com.
Caroline Walker is a Brooklyn-based freelance writer and editor. She has worked in both the entertainment and the nonprofit sector. Walker holds a BA from the University of Southern California and an MA from New York University’s Gallatin School.
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