The recently trained volunteer ham radio operators rescued a man after he fell more than 40 feet onto rocks below.

Tso and Ava are both of Topanga, California which is a Los Angeles suburb and are members of the Topanga Disaster Radio Team. The couple had climbed a hill on Catalina Island to check out a repeater when they saw a 61-year-old man bleeding and moaning.

Tso and Ava had their hand-held radios with them.

They used the equipment to make contact with other radio amateurs on the California mainland, who called 911 to report the emergency. Los Angeles County firefighter paramedics responded and the injured man was quickly flown by medevac helicopter to St Mary's Hospital in Long Beach for treatment.

Authorities say that the couple's quick thinking and knowledge of ham radio helped save the injured man's life.

The Topanga Disaster Radio Team they work with is a part of the Topanga Coalition for Emergency Preparedness.