Australian bodysurfer washed away by waves, saved by Apple Watch Ultra

Rick Shearman, an Australian bodysurfer, has his Apple Watch Ultra for saving his life after he was swept away while surfing at Tallow Beach in New South Wales. Shearman, a Byron Bay resident, was taking part in what was otherwise a routine surf session on Saturday.

Tallow Beach

Dragged along while surfing

Things changed for the 49-year-old, very experienced surfer when he entered the impact zone, the area where waves break, while trying to reach shore.

Also read: Apple unveils three new watches, including the brand new ‘Apple Watch Ultra’

Shearman, who had been in similar situations before, decided not to push against the ocean and let the current carry him back past the surf in search of a channel to shore.

Couldn’t find help

But that day, things didn’t go as planned and Shearman quickly realized he was in trouble.

No more splashing

“After about 20 minutes it became clear that I wasn’t going to make it back, and I needed help,” Shearman told ABC.

That was easier said than done, as he had no way to alert his partner, who was on the beach. Then Shearman remembered that he still had his Apple Watch Ultra on his wrist.

Apple

Call 911 from Apple Watch

He found the emergency function on his smartwatch and called 000, Australia’s emergency number.

But what happened next left Shearman confused. They asked him if he wanted police, fire or ambulance.

“I really didn’t know how to react. At that point I was far out at sea, I was being hit by wind and big waves, it was actually quite difficult to use (the watch). I had to hold it to my ear to hear what was happening and talk to the respondent,” he said.

Also read: Vet uses Apple Watch on lion’s tongue to measure heart rate

Saved by Apple Watch

For the next hour, Shearman remained on the line directing emergency services to his location. He was eventually airlifted to safety by a rescue helicopter.

“If I didn’t have that service on my watch, I’d probably be floating in international waters somewhere right now,” Shearman said.

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