An Australian man used his Apple Watch Ultra to call for help after being swept out to sea, demonstrating the lifesaving potential of wearable technology.
Rick Shearman, 49, was body surfing at Byron Bay beach when he was caught in the impact zone, the area where waves break. Despite being an experienced surfer, Shearman was repeatedly dunked by waves and began cramping up. Following safety advice, he allowed the current to carry him out to sea to avoid exhausting himself. However, he soon found himself half a mile from shore and unable to swim back.
In a critical moment, Shearman remembered his Apple Watch Ultra’s capability to call emergency services. He used the watch to contact help and stayed on the line for an hour until he was rescued by an emergency helicopter.
How to Call for Help on Your Apple Watch
If you find yourself in a similar situation, here’s how you can call emergency services with your Apple Watch:
Press and Hold the Side Button: Located on the right side of the watch, beneath the Digital Crown.
Drag the Emergency Call Slider: This will appear after holding the side button. Drag it to the right to initiate the call immediately.
Hold the Side Button: Alternatively, continue holding the side button to automatically call emergency services after a brief countdown.
Apple’s Lifesaving Technology
The Apple Watch Ultra, released in 2022, is designed for outdoor activities and is water-resistant up to 100m. It can contact emergency services in several countries without being set up for mobile phone service, a feature available in Apple Watches from Series 5 onward.
Shearman’s experience highlights the practical, lifesaving benefits of wearable technology. While he faced some difficulty using the watch in rough conditions, he acknowledged the immense value of the device in such emergencies. “It’s amazing that I was able to use that technology to save my life,” Shearman stated.
