NotMinus

Well, This morning I get a phone call from a Reporter asking if Relitives of Ben Vonhardenberg were avalible. I just respond yes as my fathers name is Bon Vanhardenberg and people constantly think its a typing error and correct it from Bon to Ben. She tells me she is writing a tribute page of his life in tomorrows paper. I say what, my fathers name is Bon VANhardenberg not ben. She asks if he was a Pilot and I respond no, hes an oceonographer. She justs says okay, bye. Now, it didn't hit me during the conversation but my father has been in the Artic as a scientist on one of the Canadain Coast Guard vessels for the last two weeks and I haven't heard much from him. There have been a few deaths in Helicopter Crashes and Machine Accidents over the years so, I start to get worried and try his Sattalite Phone (which is not usualy on) and send him an Email. I call my mother and tell her what happened and she suggests I try the coast guard. I get ahold of the local base in Victoria and they connect me to regonail enquires, I explain whats happened and the operator calls up the nothern station and confirms there have been no reports of any incidents on his ship. I feel better now but I still want to hear from him in person to know hes alright. Really freaked me out though and I can't imagine that the actual relitives of Ben Vonhardenberg would like to be called at home by reports as such a time. There is nothing really to discuss here, just sharing my story as im still worked up about it.

The_Dude

so,what was on the column the next day?

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"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." - Darrel K Royal

wario

Call the newspaper or where ever the reporter was from and ask them what that was all about.

ratbastid

Presumably Ben's family would have long since been notified....

Here's hoping Bon's all right. Though I'm sure he is.

NotMinus

I should have got more information from the reporter but it was early morning and I was on autopilot. Im planning on checking the paper tomorrow to see what they printed.

mrquackers

I'm a reporter. I can tell you exactly what happened.

It's common practice at many papers to confirm details when someone submits an obituary. Generally, relatives are ok with this, since they want their loved ones lives reflected accurately. And that's the reason we let them believe. The *real* reason the calls are made, though, is twofold:

First, we have to find out if the person is, in fact, deceased. All too often, jokesters or enemies or even friends will submit an obituary for someone who's alive.

Second, when information about the wake is printed, we have to ensure the address is correct.

It's a crummy job - and it generally goes to rookies, right out of school, so they don't always handle it well. Sorry they worried you unnecessarily.

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giblfiz

At least they are doing some fact checking. Seems to be a dead art in the media these days.

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tehblaed

heh, heh heh. Dead art.

skinbag

Gotta move on..Shit happens. It's pretty cool you had an outlet to voice your opinion and a good explanation for what happened.

lafemmefatale

Where do you live NotMinus? Here's an update for your mysterious phone call, you may rest easy, but it certainly is unpleasant news.

Today in the newspaper the news of this certain "Ben von Hardenberg" appeared front page of the section for local news. The internet didn't carry the article, it had a blurb

"CHOPPER PILOT KILLED

Over the weekend, the forest fires claimed another victim. A helicopter pilot died when his chopper went down about 80 kilometres east of 100 Mile House.

The Mission man was fighting the Bonaparte Lake fire just north of Kamloops. He was in a Bell 205 helicopter owned by Gemini Helicopters.

RCMP say it is too early to say what went wrong, but a recovery effort is under way."

The newspaper article carried much more details with the reporting though. The guy's 33, ready to marry and move to Australia next month so I doubt this is your father. But the coincidence is marvelous to have seen it today, though exceptionally depressing. [on a side note, recently BC's been facing a lot of fires that's thus far destroyed communities, towns everything.]

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