More evidence that mobile phones can save your life in the mountains (even if you hate it when they ring). An RAF helicopter rescue trying to locate a stranded walker who had fallen behind a rock after a long tumble in Llanberis Pass got him to locate himself by sending him a text message - sorry, txt msj. Because messages require less power to send and receive than voice calls, it could reach the stranded man.
The same technique was used by a woman who was stranded in the Pacific recently; rather more impressively, she texted her boyfriend back in London, who then arranged the rescue.
We don't yet know whether 999 (112 in the Continent) accepts text messages - presumably "Hlp hlp i hv brkn mi lg" might perplex some operators. Any suggestions?