Apple devices have many features that make it easy for users to contact emergency services. This time, Rick Shearman found himself in trouble after being swept away by water in rough seas off Byron Bay, Australia. Luckily, he was able to call for help using his Apple Watch Ultra.
Man Lost at Sea is Rescued Thanks to His Apple Watch
As reported by Australia ABC newsShearman was bodysurfing at Tallow Beach when he hit an impact zone where the waves were breaking. “I got a couple of big ones on my head and was held under for a while, I started to panic a bit and got cramps under the water there,” Shearman said.
Although Shearman is an experienced surfer and swimmer, he realized he was in trouble after trying in vain to find a channel that would take him back to shore. “After about 20 minutes it became clear that I wasn’t going to make it and that I needed some help.”
Because his partner on the beach thought the surfer had left to go shopping, no one was really looking for him. But Shearman, wearing his Apple Watch Ultra, which has built-in cellular connectivity, called Australian emergency services, who held the line for an hour until rescuers arrived.
“At that time I was far out to sea, I was being battered by wind and big waves, it was actually quite difficult to use my boat [the watch]. I had to hold it to my ear to hear what was happening and to talk to the respondent.” But despite the challenges, Shearman was rescued and is doing well.
The Apple Watch has been certified water resistant to a depth of 50 meters since the Series 2. The Apple Watch Ultra, which features a more rugged design to withstand the most challenging scenarios imaginable, is more water resistant to a depth of 100 meters.
One lifeguard said the Apple Watch was a game-changer in the rescue operation, as an operation like this could take hours or even days on the high seas. “It’s amazing that I was able to use that technology to save my life,” Shearman said of his Apple Watch.
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