Rescuers were able to find the stranded man after he activated the new feature.
Rescuers in Alaska were able to locate a stranded snowmobiler with the help of Apple’s new Emergency SOS via satellite feature.
A stranded man in Alaska was able to call for help with Apple’s Emergency SOS. Apple/Screenshot by Sarah Lord/CNET
Alaska State Troopers say the man was traveling from Noorvik to Kotzebue on Alaska’s northern west coast early Thursday morning when he became stranded and activated the feature on his iPhone.
Local search and rescue teams sent a group of four volunteer searchers to the Nimiuk Point area. They were able to use the GPS coordinates provided by Apple’s emergency response center to locate the man, troopers say.
The man, who wasn’t injured, was transported to Kotzebue by the search team.
Apple’s Emergency SOS via satellite feature, announced at the company’s September product launch, allows iPhone 14 users to contact emergency services and contacts even when out of cellular range. With a clear view of the sky, messages can be sent via satellite in as little as 15 seconds, Apple says.
The feature is free for the first two years.