Some memories of the May 29, 1985 Heysel tragedy by ON4GA.
The media recently covered the commemoration of the 1985 Heysel tragedy. The following is a testimony demonstrating the importance of radio amateurism in such circumstances.
Following a call by Jean ON4FM during the evening, thirteen radio amateurs lined up with their vehicles near the Brussels hospitals concerned. The issue was to solve the problem of over-saturated telephone networks and the radio networks of police and emergency services, and to transmit the victims' data as quickly as possible to the Red Cross headquarters in the Vleurgatsesteenweg.
Through frequent participation in events such as the 20 km through Brussels, marathons and visits from authorities, the Brussels team was familiar with the devices and procedures. My son Didier ON7DI and I were assigned to the UZ VUB - not far from the stadium - where most of the victims were received. Its location on a hill made communication with the other radio stations ideal. Despite the stressful situation, the reception staff regularly provided us with the names of admitted patients. It was enough that we identified ourselves as radio amateurs in the service of the Red Cross. The transmission of the mainly Italian and often similar names and first names had to be absolutely flawless.
The most dramatic moments were those when relatives came for information, their relief when we were able to tell them in which hospital their loved one had been admitted, but also their distress when a name did not appear on the, nevertheless complete, list of emergency services. Especially painful was the realization that the wanted persons had died and been transferred to the military hospital of Neder-Over-Heembeek.The Red Cross UBA stations made up a modest team in comparison to the paramedics, surgeons, police and sports officials, but their action showed that good radio communication was indispensable in disasters, even at the local level. This was unfortunately confirmed again on March 6, 1987, when the Herald of Free Enterprise capsized while leaving the port of Zeebrugge, with 193 fatalities.
André ON4GA