WASHINGTON, June 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Wireless Foundation and CTIA-The Wireless Association® honored Joey LaMountain of Cape Coral, Florida with a VITA™ Wireless Samaritan Award at the 17th Annual Achievement Awards dinner on Monday, June 6. LaMountain received the award for using his cellphone to alert authorities and save the life of a trapped manatee.

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Joey LaMountain was kayaking on the Orange River near the Manatee Park in Fort Myers when he noticed a manatee's flipper was ensnared in a crab trap buoy. Joey used his cellphone to call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission's (FWC) emergency hotline, take photos and give directions to his remote location. The manatee was rescued and taken to Tampa's Lawry Zoo where it recovered before being released back into the wild. Florida FWC officials noted the rescue was especially important this year due to a record number of deaths of endangered manatees brought on by unusually cold weather.

"While most of the VITA Wireless Samaritan Award recipients are recognized for rescuing another human being, Joey's quick thinking and his wireless device meant an endangered manatee was able to recover and safely return to the wild," said Steve Largent, president of The Wireless Foundation and president and CEO of CTIA-The Wireless Association.

The awards are presented annually to recognize Americans who used wireless technology to save lives, stop crime and help in other emergency situations. Recipients are the epitome of good Samaritans who put safety first and use wireless to help those in need. With more than 300,000 wireless phone calls made to 911 every day, the awards also reinforce the crucial role wireless technology plays in emergencies.

Thanks to his lifesaving actions, Joey LaMountain was selected by a panel of law enforcement and emergency response representatives. There were nine VITA Wireless Samaritan Award recipients from across the nation.

The Wireless Foundation is a non-profit organization that was formed by member companies of CTIA-The Wireless Association® in 1991.

The Foundation oversees a number of programs designed to put wireless technology to work addressing the challenges of society.

www.wirelessfoundation.org

SOURCE The Wireless Foundation

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