Three students of Brigham Young University were rescued because of the Satellite SOS feature in iPhone 14.
Apple’s Emergency SOS via Satellite feature, introduced with the iPhone 14, is already proving to be a lifesaver. This past weekend, three Brigham Young University students found themselves stranded while exploring the canyons of the San Rafael Swell Recreation area in Utah. They used the feature to call for help.
KUTV reported that the students got stuck in deep water while canyoneering and couldn’t get out for several hours, which led to hypothermic shock. Because they were in a remote area, they couldn’t use regular cellular data to call for help. Fortunately, Stephen Watts, one of the students, had an iPhone 14 and used its Emergency SOS via Satellite feature to text authorities and share their location.
Jeremy Mumford, one of the other students, told KUTV that the canyon had sheer rock walls about 500 feet deep. Every 20 minutes or so, a satellite would align with their location, and by holding the phone up, they could get a signal to text 911 to Emery County. Thanks to the iPhone 14, the trio was rescued soon after, likely saving their lives.
Even though the students had responsibly told an emergency contact to call for help if they hadn’t checked in by 9 p.m., they were trapped in freezing water for several hours before being rescued. This means their emergency contact might have been too late, and their lives could have been in serious danger if there was no iPhone.
The story of these students, along with others that are bound to come up as the Emergency SOS via Satellite feature becomes more common, really shows how crucial it is to stay updated with the latest technology. Currently, this life-saving feature is only available on the iPhone 14, so not everyone has access to it yet. But as more people will start using the iPhone 14 and it’s newer models, this feature could become something we won’t imagine living without.
