In an astounding incident near Los Angeles, an iPhone 14’s advanced features came to the rescue, saving a man’s life when he drove off a cliff and plunged a stomach-churning 400 feet into a canyon. The incident took place on a Friday evening in the Mount Wilson area. Thanks to his iPhone 14, equipped with unique Crash Detection and Emergency SOS features, the man survived this harrowing ordeal.
To fully grasp the gravity of the situation, let’s delve into how these life-saving features of the iPhone 14 worked in unison. At the onset, the phone’s built-in Crash Detection system intuitively sensed the severity of the car crash, providing an instant alert and paving the way for swift emergency response.
Following this, the iPhone swiftly activated its Emergency SOS feature, leveraging a satellite connection to bypass the lack of cellular or Wi-Fi coverage in the crash area. According to a report from MacRumours, it sent out a text message carrying the precise location of the crash to an emergency relay center.
The prompt alert and precise location information became a beacon for emergency responders, helping them locate the man trapped in the canyon. Navigating the 400-foot drop to rescue the man was no easy task, but armed with the accurate information, they made it possible.
Reflecting on the rescue operation, Steve Goldsworthy, the Rescue Operations Leader at Montrose Search and Rescue, noted the critical role the iPhone played. In his words, “He was 400 feet down in a canyon with virtually no way out. So, who knows when, or if, we would’ve located him.” The situation indeed was grim, and another rescue team member noted that the severity of the man’s injuries could have led to him bleeding out had the rescue not been timely.
Interestingly, the Crash Detection feature comes standard on all iPhone 14 models, whereas the Emergency SOS via satellite functionality requires an iPhone 14 running on iOS 16.1 or a later version.
The incident serves as a powerful testament to the crucial role that life-saving technologies integrated into our smartphones can play. These technologies can be instrumental in critical situations, potentially saving lives when conventional communication means fall short.
Consequently, the man at the heart of this terrifying incident, along with his rescuers, can now take a sigh of relief. They have firsthand experienced the exceptional power of technology, specifically the iPhone 14 and its emergency features, in averting a possible tragedy.