The iPhone 14’s Satellite SOS feature proved to be a lifesaver last week when three students got trapped in a Utah canyon without cellular service. Launched in September, the Satellite SOS function enables iPhone 14 users to access satellite communications during emergencies.
A dangerous adventure
The students involved recounted their harrowing experience to Utah’s KUTV (via AppleInsider). Bridger Woods, one of the students, mentioned that the group decided to explore a “pretty cool canyon” after a year of canyoneering experience.
The canyon presented unexpected challenges, including deep water, possibly due to Utah’s wet winter. Woods and Jeremy Mumford, another student, were trapped in a pool for over an hour before managing to escape and venture further. The group then encountered a chest-deep pool, which they could not get past.
With two students showing signs of hypothermia and no cell signal in the canyon, the third student, Stephen Watts, utilized his iPhone 14’s Satellite SOS feature. Mumford explained that every 20 minutes, a satellite aligned with their location, allowing them to text 911 for help.
Awaiting rescue
While waiting for emergency responders, the students managed to escape the deep pool using ropes and carabiners. However, hypothermic shock left Woods unable to climb out of the 10 to 15-foot hole they were in. The group started a fire with driftwood to stay warm until help arrived.
A helicopter crew from Salt Lake City and paramedics from Arizona eventually rescued the students, who were all unharmed. The students now recommend bringing a satellite phone on adventures for emergency situations.
The Satellite SOS feature on the iPhone 14 has already saved lives in other critical incidents, such as when a man was stranded in the Alaskan wilderness and during a severe accident in California’s Angeles National Forest.
Available in select countries for all iPhone 14 users, the Satellite SOS feature can be activated during emergencies when Wi-Fi or cellular connections are unavailable. The service is free for the first two years, but Apple has yet to reveal its cost thereafter.
