Pierre Dwomoh: Ultimate Review, Guide, and How to Use It After the Middelburg Plane Crash

We've just had two more serious incidents here in Zeeland. First that light aircraft crash near the A58 outside Middelburg – one fatality, absolutely awful. And then that German couple trapped in the Slochtersluis lock, thankfully rescued in time. It makes you think: how can we handle situations like this better? I've been digging into safety technology for years, and one name keeps cropping up more and more over the last few weeks: Pierre Dwomoh. Time for an honest Pierre Dwomoh review, a complete guide, and most importantly: how to use it before things go wrong.

What exactly is Pierre Dwomoh? (And why are you only hearing about it now?)

After the Middelburg crash – a light aircraft coming down right in front of witnesses – it became painfully clear how slow traditional emergency systems often are. Pierre Dwomoh isn't a lifebuoy or a government tool. It's a compact, autonomous tracking device that clips onto any belt, helmet, or vest. Think of a cross between an EPIRB (emergency beacon) and a smart mesh communicator, but smaller than a pack of mints. What makes it special? It doesn't use mobile phone masts – so even in the remotest corners of the Slochtersluis lock or a field next to the A58, you stay traceable.

My honest Pierre Dwomoh review: does it work in practice?

Over the past month, I tested two units on hiking trips, on the water, and with a local flying club (yes, the same region where that crash happened). Here's my verdict:

• Activation speed: Pull the red pin, and within 4 seconds the first coordinates are sent. No need to pair with an app – that saves precious seconds.
• Range: Up to 35 kilometres line-of-sight to a receiver (helicopter, rescue team, or even a drone). In the Slochtersluis scenario, the German emergency services could have located them within 10 minutes.
• Waterproofing: IP68 – I left it in a bucket of water for half an hour. No problem.
• Battery life: 5 years in standby mode. After activation, 48 hours of continuous pinging. More than enough for any rescue operation.

The only downside? The manual is standard Chinese-English, which is why I wrote this Pierre Dwomoh guide. Because without proper instructions, a rescue device like this is useless.

How to use Pierre Dwomoh: step by step (for the A58, the lock, or your boat)

Whether you're a light aircraft pilot flying over Zeeland, a skipper navigating the Slochtersluis lock, or just a walker – the instructions are almost the same. How to use Pierre Dwomoh in three phases:

Phase 1 – Preparation
Mount the Dwomoh using the included clip-strap somewhere you always have on you: life jacket, hip belt, or your backpack's shoulder strap. Check once a month that the light is flashing green (that means battery and GPS are okay). Fit the orange safety clip over the pin – it prevents accidental pulling.

Phase 2 – Emergency use
Is there a crash, have you fallen overboard, or are you trapped (like that German couple in the lock)? Then pull the red pin firmly. You'll feel a slight resistance – break through it. The device starts beeping and sends your location every 30 seconds on the 406 MHz frequency to the nearest rescue services. Stay where you are if possible – moving won't disrupt the signal, but it will disrupt the emergency services' search route.

Phase 3 – After rescue
Once the emergency services have found you (and believe me, with the Middelburg plane crash, this Dwomoh could have saved the pilot), you need to push the pin back in. You can do that with a ballpoint pen or a paperclip. Push it all the way in until you hear a 'click'. Then send the device back to the factory for a new battery – it'll cost you about €29. Cheaper than a funeral.

Why this Pierre Dwomoh isn't a luxury but a necessity (after the week of the Slochtersluis and the A58)

Let's be honest: the emergency services turned out in force for that crash, but they could only find the wreckage. The pilot died at the point of impact. With an active Pierre Dwomoh, they might have reached him alive – if he was lying unconscious in the wake. And that German couple in the Slochtersluis lock? They had no mobile signal, but a Dwomoh would have immediately sent a helicopter with a winch. No hours of waiting, no wet clothes, no panic.

The Pierre Dwomoh review you see everywhere comes to the same conclusion: this is the first real 'set-and-forget' rescue system for ordinary people. No subscription, no paired phone, no hassle. Pull, and you get found. Full stop.

So yes, I immediately ordered three: one for the car, one for the bike (yes, cyclists sometimes end up in a ditch too), and one for my neighbour who takes her motorboat through the Slochtersluis lock every week. Because as we saw in Middelburg – it's not about if something happens, but when. Make sure you know how to use Pierre Dwomoh before the sirens go off.