Bromsgrove man urging everyone to download the What 3 Words app which saved his dad's life - The Bromsgrove Standard

Bromsgrove man urging everyone to download the What 3 Words app which saved his dad's life

Bromsgrove Editorial 28th Jul, 2021   0

A BROMSGROVE man is urging everyone to download the What3Words app after it saved his dad’s life.

Joe Mason was asked by his dad Gary to drive him to the Alexandra Hospital after experiencing severe chest pains.

Gary had already had cancer and two heart attacks in the past and was really struggling.

As the pair got onto the Bromsgrove Highway, the pain was becoming unbearable so Joe pulled over and dialled 999.




West Midlands Ambulance Service were struggling to pinpoint their exact location when Joe remembered he had the What 3 Words app on his phone.

After giving the three words for the location – Anyway, Lend, Give – an ambulance, along with the Critical Care Team arrived within three minutes.


Gary received life-saving treatment at the scene and was rushed to the Worcestershire Royal Hospital for an emergency operation.

Tests showed Gary had suffered a major heart attack and the life-saving procedure, to have a stent fitted, was successful and he is now recovering at home.

Joe said he downloaded What3Words after seeing an advert on TV for it.

“That app definitely saved my dad’s life.

“When I downloaded it, I did so in case I was out meeting friends and they couldn’t locate where I was – I never thought it would be crucial in a life and death situation like it was.”

Joe is now urging other people to download the app.

“It’s free and does not take up much space on your phone and it could save your life as it did with my dad.”

Gary said: “I’m so glad Joe was with me and he had the app – he was so cool at the time and I’m so proud of him.

“Without him and the app I wouldn’t be here now.”

Urging people to download the app he said: “If it saves one more person’s life it will be worth it.”

What3Words has divided the whole world into 3mx3m squares with each section having a unique three-word address which anyone can refer to if they need their exact location.

It is now used by all the emergency services as it can pinpoint crews more accurately than postcodes, especially in rural and remote areas or, for example, on motorways between junctions and markers.

It can be downloaded on Android from the Play Store here and from the Apple store here.

Click here for more on the What 3 Words app.

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