Maryland 911 dispatcher snores through emergency call

ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) — A woman who called 911 after her husband was unable to breathe found a snoring Maryland dispatcher at the other end of the line.

The woman called 911 from her Montgomery County home on April 4. According to a recording of the call, she repeatedly says "hello" but gets no reply. A second dispatcher intervenes and gives her first aid advice as the first dispatcher can be heard snoring. The woman's husband was later taken to a hospital.

The slumbering dispatcher did eventually wake up and ask for the caller's address. He was apparently unaware the caller had been on the line for about six minutes.

A fire official says the employee was placed on administrative leave. The dispatcher was a uniformed firefighter who was 17 hours into a 24-hour shift.