It’s not uncommon for individuals to misplace their iPhones or Apple Watches in the ocean, based on numerous reports we’ve come across. While many users rely on Apple’s Find My feature to track down their devices, this particular incident stands out as it involved an iPhone being returned to its owner through the Medical ID function.
How Medical ID enabled the recovery of an iPhone lost at sea
Thiago Itagaki shared on Threads that while swimming at Maresias beach in São Paulo, Brazil, he stumbled upon a submerged iPhone. He described it as being approximately “3 meters under” the surface and “10 meters from the shoreline.” Thiago inquired at the beach to locate the owner, but no one claimed it.
“The phone was dead when I found it, and it was housed in a case containing three credit cards. I tried searching for the owner but couldn’t identify anyone who matched,” recounted the individual who discovered the device. After allowing the iPhone to dry completely, he plugged it in to charge and was relieved to find it functional. He then thought to use the Medical ID feature to find the owner.
For those who may not know, the Medical ID setup allows iPhone users to share vital information in emergencies, accessible without a password. This includes details like allergies, blood type, and emergency contact numbers. The last feature was key in helping Thiago connect with the phone’s owner.
“I reached out to a contact labeled ‘Love,’ which led me to the phone’s owner. They were from São Paulo and had already left Maresias. The owner lost the phone on New Year’s Eve, and it had been submerged for four days, yet it still functioned. I assumed it had only been there for a few hours,” he added.
Thiago expressed that the owner was “incredibly thankful” for his assistance. He shared with DMN that he never anticipated that the story “would garner so much interest,” as it has already received thousands of likes on Threads. “People are losing devices in quite unexpected situations,” he remarked.
It’s important to mention that iPhones have featured water resistance since the iPhone 7 model. However, this certification only indicates resistance up to specific depths and for limited durations.
The key takeaway here is to ensure your Medical ID is current with your emergency contacts — it could prove invaluable in retrieving your device one day. To access your Medical ID, open the Health app and tap on your profile picture at the top.
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