The crash detection feature of iPhone 14 along with the SOS feature worked swiftly to inform first responders. Then they steered the rescue operation in a helicopter.
Expert speaks
Montrose Search and Rescue Team, California tweeted, “Deputies, Fire Notified of Vehicle Over the Side Via iPhone Emergency Satellite Service. This afternoon at approximately 1:55 PM, @CVLASD received a call from the Apple emergency satellite service. The informant and another victim had been involved in a single vehicle accident on Angeles Forest Hwy near mile marker 18.87, Angeles Forest. Their vehicle had gone off the side of the mountain, approximately 300′. They were in a remote canyon with no cellular phone service. The victims were able to extricate themselves from the car.” They further added, “Using the emergency satellite service on their iPhone 14, they were able to communicate to a relay center via text. The center contacted our station who dispatched us @LACOFD, patrol units, and @SEBLASD Air Rescue 5. The call center gave us an accurate latitude and longitude for the victims. Air Rescue 5 was able to locate the victims and insert a paramedic. The paramedic learned the patients, a male and female in their 20s, had mild to moderate injuries. The helicopter was able to hoist the victims out of the canyon and transport them to a local area hospital.”
About the feature
The satellite-based SOS feature as the name suggests helps people to connect with potential responders when no other form of connectivity like a phone network or Wi-Fi is available. One can communicate through basic texts and share locations using this feature. It is free for iPhone 14 users for the first two years.
Used before too
Previously also in the first week of December 2022, this feature helped a person. An adult male alerted Alaska State Troopers when he was stranded in a remote location using the satellite-based SOS feature. Apple Emergency Report Center received the GPS coordinates of the man and conveyed the same to the local emergency team. They performed the rescue operation and were able to save the man in time.
