For as long as the Apple Watch has existed, users have shared stories of the device offering life-saving aid. Recently, a couple especially powerful such stories have emerged. Yesterday we reported on a woman’s Apple Watch helping her catch cancer early. Now per a new video, the Apple Watch Ultra and Emergency SOS were involved in an ocean rescue in Australia.

Emergency SOS on Apple Watch Ultra helped man find ocean save

Apple Australia’s YouTube channel published a new video yesterday highlighting an Apple Watch Ultra-assisted rescue.

On July 13, 2024, Rick Shearman went body surfing near Byron Bay when things got scary.

Turbulent waters led Shearman to get caught in a rip and ultimately end up 1.6km (about 1 mile) from shore.

He used Emergency SOS on his Apple Watch Ultra to call emergency services. This can be done by pressing and holding an Apple Watch’s side button then using the Emergency Call slider.

Per the re-creation of the call in the video, Shearman was exhausted, cramping, and unable to see a beach in sight. He very well could have drowned if left alone.

But thanks to the call, a team of emergency professionals was able to find him and perform a rescue.

Later this year, Apple is expected to add satellite connectivity to the Apple Watch Ultra 3.

No doubt after that happens, we’ll start hearing even more rescue stories from Ultra users in the years ahead.

Source: 9to5mac