Rescued from the sea: Apple advertises emergency call function of Apple Watch
Apple likes to open its keynotes with stories about how Apple Watch & Co. save lives. This has now been turned into an advertising campaign.
Emergency call SOS on the Apple Watch: Rescued 1.5 km off the coast.
(Image: Apple / Screenshot YouTube)
These are stories that Apple CEO Tim Cook particularly likes to tell to the public: for several years now, important keynote presentations have often opened with short films showing how the emergency and health features of the Apple Watch or iPhone help to improve people's lives – or even save them. A case that occurred last summer has now even resulted in an advertising campaign: in Australia, Apple is advertising with a bodysurfer whose life may have been saved last year by the emergency call function of his Apple Watch.
Drifting off the coast
Rick Shearman, who is actually well-trained, was swept off the coast of north-eastern New South Wales during a strong swell. In the end, he is said to have been almost one and a half kilometers from the coast – impossible to swim back. He lost strength and fought against the sea. However, Shearman had his Apple Watch Ultra with backed-up LTE mobile phone on his wrist, which he fortunately remembered even in the extreme situation.
So he activated the emergency SOS function, which can be triggered by holding down the action button. In fact, he still had phone reception even so far out and was able to contact the emergency services. The emergency services then set off by helicopter while remaining in telephone contact with Shearman. "Please stay on the line," they told him.
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Watch kept afloat
The case has now been turned into a one-minute commercial by Apple, in which the accident is re-enacted. With dramatic music and the victim as an actor, it demonstrates how the action took place. In the small print, however, Apple warns that the connection, which is available via the mobile network or Wi-Fi calling, is not always established.
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Shearman may have been doubly lucky in this case: That he had his Apple Watch Ultra with him – and that it was (still) able to connect. In fact, this is virtually impossible underwater, so the rescued man had to hold the watch over his head at all times during the phone call. One rescue organization praised the Apple Watch when the case made the rounds last summer. This and similar devices are "game changers".
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(bsc)
