Apple Watch Ultra Saves Australian Man Swept Out to Sea
Credit: ABC News Australia
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An Australian bodysurfer credits his Apple Watch Ultra with saving him after he was stranded at sea in Byron Bay, Australia. Rick Shearman says he was swept away by rough seas, but luckily, he was wearing his Apple Watch Ultra, which he used to contact emergency services.
Australia’s ABC News reports that Shearman was bodysurfing at Tallow Beach when he was treading water in rough seas a kilometer offshore and realized that he was caught in an impact zone where the waves were breaking. “I copped a couple of big ones on the head and was held under for a while, I started to panic a bit and cramp up underwater there,” Shearman said.
Even though Shearman is an experienced swimmer and surfer, he was unable to find a channel that would allow him to get back to shore. “It became clear after about 20 minutes that I wasn’t going to make it back in and I needed some assistance.”
“I’ve been caught in rips before, many times over the years, and never panicked — just let it take you where it takes you and find a way to exit the water. But this wasn’t going north or south, it was going straight out to sea.”
Shearman was on his own, as his surfing partner had thought he had left to go shopping, so no one was looking for him. Sherman then realized he was wearing his Apple Watch Ultra, which has a built-in cellular radio, allowing him to contact Australian emergency services. Operators stayed on the line with him for an hour or so until rescuers arrived on the scene.
“At this point, I was a long way out to sea, I was being buffeted by wind and big swells, it was actually quite difficult to utilize [the watch]. I had to hold it up to my ear to hear what was going on and speak to the respondent.” Shearman was rescued and is doing well.
Mr Shearman said he wasn’t sure what to say when the emergency operator asked if he wanted police, fire, or ambulance.
“I really didn’t know to to respond.”
“If it wasn’t for being able to access that service in my watch, I’d probably be bobbing out somewhere in international waters by now.”
The Apple Watch Ultra has a rugged design to withstand the challenges of extreme sports enthusiasts. While the Apple Watch is certified as waterproof to a depth of up to 50 meters, the Apple Watch Ultra is certified waterproof to a depth of 100 meters.
Jimmy Keogh, a lifeguard from Surf Life Saving Far North Coast, said the device was a game changer.
“The search area for the person in the water with the conditions that we had, it would have been a pretty substantial search area involving multi agencies that could have gone one for days as well,” said Keogh.
Shearman said he would definitely think twice before going out again in conditions like that.
“I underestimated it,” he said. “It’s amazing that I was able to use that technology to save my life.”
