Six people who survived a deadly backcountry avalanche near Lake Tahoe, California this week reportedly communicated with rescuers via the iPhone’s satellite emergency SOS feature to help secure their rescue, according to reports. It helped save their lives, although nine others were killed in the tragedy.
How the iPhone SOS satellite helped save a skier in a deadly avalanche
With an iPhone and Garmin inReach used as a beacon, the ski trip guide stayed in touch with first responders at the scene and relayed information to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office to coordinate the rescue. The New York Times. It is far from the first time that Emergency SOS has come to the rescue via satellite, as it has helped tourists and others in desperate situations.
“One of my staff was communicating with one of the guides for four hours, providing information to the Nevada Sheriff’s Office and coordinating what rescues could be authorized,” said Don O’Keefe of the California Office of Emergency Services.
The six were among a group of 15 skiers on a three-day guided trip in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. Another nine did not survive, eight buried by snow and debris, and a ninth missing and presumed dead.
What the function does
Photo: Apple
Emergency SOS via satellite was released in 2022 with all iPhone 14 models. It allows iPhone users to contact emergency lines via SMS when there is no cellular or Wi-Fi connection. It uses a direct connection with the satellite.
Users must be outside with a clear view of the sky to connect. Once connected, the phone sends a message to emergency personnel. They can then get details such as location, emergency contacts and remaining battery life.
Which devices support it
This feature is available on all iPhone 14, 15, 16, and 17 models running iOS 16.1 or later. And it’s free for two years after device activation.
But Apple keeps extending the free two years of emergency SOS via satellite that buyers of new iPhones and Apple Watches get. In fact, it’s still free for iPhone 14 users. And it may remain free for a while, although we’ll see what Apple does later this year in terms of attaching pricing to the service.
Some Android users also have access — specifically those with certain Pixel 9 models and all Pixel 10 devices.
David Snowan expert on Apple hardware and software, writes on a variety of technology and cultural topics for Cult of Mac. They include Apple news, tech buying guides, and features on setting up your computer and Apple TV shows and movies.
With 30 years of experience in technology and other topics, he has written and edited numerous print and online publications, including CMP media, TechTV.com, OVERHANG, Cable news, Red herring magazine, Law.com, National Law Journal and Law Technology News magazine. Among other things, he served as executive editor of the Law.com network of websites and editorial director of technology for ALM Media.
Snow graduated from Syracuse University with a bachelor’s degree in magazine journalism and psychology. While there he worked as a reporter for Daily orange newspaper and associate editor Same time magazine.
Founder of the blog On the water linecan be reached on X (formerly Twitter) via @atthewaterline and on Mastodon via @dsnow.