A US couple checking their answering machine heard a frightening three-minute recording of their son caught in a battle in Afghanistan.
Stephen Phillips, 22, was fighting insurgents when his mobile phone was pressed, causing it to dial his parent’s number in Otis, Oregon.
Most of the sounds were gunfire, but swearing and shouts of “more ammo!” and “incoming!” could also be heard.
In a similar incident a UK man checking his answering machine heard a frightening three-minute recording of his wife on a shopping trip around John Lewis. Harriet Hardman, 49, was in Haberdashery when her mobile phone was pressed causing it to dial her husband’s number in The Shires.
Most of the sounds were cash registers but swearing and shouts of “more money” and “incoming store card” could also be heard.
“I’ve never been so scared in all my life,” said Mr Hardman, “for a while I thought I was going to lose everything.”