What you heard wasn’t a ghostly call from beyond but rather emergency services reaching out, thanks to the Crash Detection feature on the Apple Watch. This was the actual scenario for a 55-year-old Apple Watch owner in Massachusetts who fainted while driving, ultimately finding himself in his overturned vehicle submerged in a neighbor’s pool.
According to Taylor Smith and Ryan Trowbridge from WGGB/WSHM, the incident involving Brent Hill from Easthampton, MA, is nothing short of astonishing:
Hill described the ordeal as alarming, stating that he suddenly experienced nausea while driving on December 16, and that was the last thing he remembered before he lost consciousness. Security footage from a neighbor’s camera showed Hill’s vehicle speeding through the neighbor’s garage shortly before landing upside down in their pool. […]
As he slowly regained awareness, Hill heard a faint voice. Initially thinking it was a supernatural presence, he later realized it was his Apple Watch communicating with him, informing him that help was on the way.
Though it wasn’t a voice from beyond the grave, it was still a remarkable outcome. Hill recounted how Crash Detection on his Apple Watch performed precisely as intended by calling 911 on his behalf:
“In that moment of panic, I understood I was in a precarious situation. […] I assume my foot pressed down hard on the accelerator, and since I wasn’t braking, I sped right through. I was oblivious to all of this until I watched the footage of my car speeding down the street and crashing, and I was shocked by how fast I was going.”
He acknowledges the vital role his Apple Watch played in the unfolding of this traumatic event:
“If emergency services hadn’t contacted me through the watch and guided me, there’s no way I would’ve made it out. I could hardly hear anything from the outside. I sensed chaos but couldn’t understand what was happening. I didn’t know my location, yet that person kept me composed, and without that, I likely would have drowned.”
For the complete story, click here. Apple also explains the workings of Crash Detection in a support document found here.
This incident, which occurred on December 16, serves as a reminder of the crucial health and safety capabilities offered by the Apple Watch, which consistently benefit users daily. Interested in upgrading to a new Apple Watch? The outgoing Apple Watch Series 9 is available for just $249 at Walmart while supplies last.
The upcoming Apple Watch Series 10 introduces sleep apnea detection and features a sleeker, thinner design.
Crash Detection is available on newer Apple Watch and iPhone models including:
- Apple Watch Series 8 and newer, Apple Watch Ultra and newer, and Apple Watch SE 2 and newer with watchOS 9 or later
- iPhone 14 and newer with iOS 16 or later
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