What you need to know
- An Apple Watch is being credited with helping save the life of a kayaker who got swept out to sea.
- The kayaker was able to summon help using his Apple Watch.
- A helicopter rescue saved the man who was unable to get back to shore.
A kayaker who got into trouble off Sidney, Australia's north shore is said to be lucky to be alive after using his Apple Watch to call for help. The man found himself swept out to sea by strong currents after being separated from a partner.
The story goes that the man was swept out to sea by "large swell and strong winds" and was unable to get back to shore under his own steam. The quick-thinker was saved after he was able to call for help using his Apple Watch, although the Mail Online report doesn't explain whether that was a traditional phone call or Apple Watch's SOS functionality.
A search for the kayak was immediately launched with NSW Police Marine Area Command calling Surf Lifesaving NSW and the Westpac rescue helicopter.
The report notes that "lifeguards and Freshwater Surf Lifesaving Club also assisted by deploying jetskis and inflatable rescue boats," with the man rescued after the helicopter spied his bright orange kayak from the skies.
Helicopter rescuer Nick Pavlakis said the man was "lucky he had [a] connection on his device to make that desperate call for help," according to local reports.
Apple Watches have of course proven useful for saving lives on many occasions over the years, often by automatically calling for help when a wearer takes a tumble. Fall Detection is one of the best Apple Watch features that a lot of people don't give enough credit to, but the ability to call for help and even make phone calls can also be extremely handy in a sticky situation.
Bigger, brighter, slightly better
You can buy the Apple Watch from Amazon if you prefer. Just remember you may be limited to only certain band combinations and models on Amazon. Plus, it's possible they will have less stock than buying from Apple directly.
