Technology often seems to be moving at such a fast pace that you can’t keep up with it. Sometimes, we even question if it’s getting too invasive and should we step back from the phones and the tablets? But for one Florida man, he has technology to thank for saving his life. So maybe, despite the breakneck speed in which technology advances, it might just be worth it.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office posted a video recently to Facebook, showing the rescue of a man who had crashed his car into a canal. According to police, the driver had tried to avoid hitting an animal when the accident happened. “The impact of the crash prompted his iPhone to send an S.O.S alert to our dispatchers with impact coordinates.”
The police dispatch received the longitude and latitude of the 38-year-old man’s location, but no other information. Officers used Google Maps to make their way to the scene, unsure of what they would find. The post showed a dark area, with no lighting and a submerged car in a canal, just north of Miami.
Body-cam footage posted showed an area that officers would have struggled to find on their own. In one video, a reflection from an officer’s flashlight bounces off of the vehicle, while a man can be heard yelling from inside the car.
“We got you buddy. I’m going to figure a way in,” an unidentified deputy calls out. “Stay back from the window buddy, I’m going to bust it.” Another video reveals deputies prying open the car door, where the shivering man was still stuck.
Can you get me a blanket please sir, I’m freezing,” he asked.
Thankfully, the man, who has not been identified, was taken to a nearby hospital and is expected to make a full recovery. Martin County Sheriff’s Office thanked not only their officers, but technology.
“We would like to commend our brave deputies and incredible dispatchers for their perseverance and bravery locating and rescuing this crash victim using only coordinates automatically launched from the victim’s phone. Amazing technology, and amazing work.”
According to Apple, Crash Detection works when there is a car crash and the phone detects the impact. After that, a satellite picks up the signal from the cell phone and transmits it to emergency services. A person can then dismiss the emergency alert if they do not need help. When there isn’t a response after 20 seconds, then the device automatically calls emergency services. Watch the amazing rescue below!
Sources: People | Daily Mail
