A climber trapped at almost 11,000 feet in the wilderness of Colorado was saved this week due to Apple’s Emergency SOS satellite messaging functionality. Here’s what transpired.
### Glissading incident
As reported by KDVR, a 53-year-old man had reached the peak of Snowmass Mountain on Sunday before starting his descent using a glissading method (which involves sliding down the snowy incline). That’s when he hurt his wrist and realized he couldn’t exit independently.
Without any cellular service, he utilized Apple’s Emergency SOS through satellite messaging to reach out to a family member, who subsequently informed the authorities.
As per officials from the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office, emergency dispatchers received the notification around 8:25 a.m. on Monday, and Mountain Rescue Aspen was sent to Snowmass Lake.
A group of 17 rescuers trekked in to provide assistance and eventually evacuated the injured climber, at an altitude of 10,980 feet and more than eight miles from the closest trailhead.
### Not merely a “Dear Tim” advertising strategy
As KDVR highlighted, features such as Apple’s Emergency SOS via satellite can be vital in situations like this:
> “The rescue team and the sheriff’s office stated that having an emergency device and knowing how to utilize Apple satellite texting can accelerate the rescue. The SOS button can also be employed for assistance, which enables the rescue team to establish direct communication.”
Have you or anyone you know ever needed to utilize Apple’s SOS Emergency service? Has the Apple Watch ever come to your aid in other instances? Share your experiences in the comments.
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