Swimmer stuck in frigid Columbia River uses Apple Watch to call for help

A woman who became stuck while swimming in the frigid Columbia River used her Apple Watch to call emergency services, which quickly came to her rescue.

The woman was swimming in the Columbia River on June 15 near The Dalles, Oregon when her foot got caught under rocks at the river's bottom, according to a report from the local police department seen by 9to5Mac.

Because of continual rains in the area, police said that the river was "extremely high." The water temperature was also about 56 degrees around 6:30 p.m., when officers showed up to reports of a swimmer in distress.

According to the report, the swimmer was nearing exhaustion and was showing signs of hypothermia when authorities showed up.

Eventually, a local police officer decided to enter the river himself. He freed the swimmer's stuck foot, and assisted her to shore.

This is far from the first time that an Apple Watch has facilitated a rescue of someone in need. People in emergency situations like car crashes and attempted assaults have used the wearable to call for aid.

Back in January 2021, the Apple Watch also helped save a cyclist who fell into a river in the U.K.

A little more at [appleinsider.com]

A lot of articles tout 'lives saved' by the Watch or it's features like detecting A-Fib, and some of these 'saves' may be the result of some embellishment regarding the degree of distress suffered by victims.

Still, my next Watch may be a cellular version, just without subscribing to a data plan for it.

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"Success isn't about how much money you make. It is about the difference you make in people's lives."--Michelle Obama

Every time I see one of those stories, I recall that Apple commercial...

[www.youtube.com]

You don't have to be first responder to get a little verklempt.

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I am that Masked Man.

Your boos mean nothing to me, I've seen what you cheer for.

Insisting on your rights without acknowledging your responsibilities isn’t freedom, it’s adolescence.

I've been to the edge of the map, and there be monsters.

We are a government of laws, not men.

Everybody counts or nobody counts.

When a good man is hurt,
all who would be called good
must suffer with him.

You and I have memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead.

There is no safety for honest men except
by believing all possible evil of evil men.

We don’t do focus groups. They just ensure that you don’t offend anyone, and produce bland inoffensive products. —Sir Jonathan Ive

An armed society is a polite society.
And hope is a lousy defense.

You make me pull, I'll put you down.

I *love* SIGs. It's Glocks I hate.

Quote
RAMd®d
Still, my next Watch may be a cellular version, just without subscribing to a data plan for it.

Mine will be. I will add the Visible $5 watch plan and try it out.

56 degrees is not frigid. not by about 20 degrees.

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“A sword never kills anybody; it is a tool in the killer's hand.” Seneca the Younger

The police have no duty to respond. See Castle Rock v. Gonzales, 545 U.S. 748 (2005) or Warren v. District of Columbia[1] (444 A.2d. 1, D.C. Ct. of Ap. 1981)

Judge Lee wrote that “we cannot jettison our constitutional rights, even if the goal behind a law is laudable." 9th Circuit Court of Appeals

[www.youtube.com]

Mine will be. I will add the Visible $5 watch plan and try it out.


I'd gladly pay att $5/mo for that service.

But they want $15/mo plus the taxes, so it's probably closer to $20.



56 degrees is not frigid. not by about 20 degrees.


Maybe not frigid, but spending a little time free diving in 50º water with no wet suit, I'll say it's cold enough to sap energy and definitely ruin someone's day via hypothermia.

Did this woman have a wet suit on?

I don't know, but with her foot trapped and basically immobile, she likely wasn't concerned about a distinction, particularly if she isn't SEAL drownproofed.

The author was in error, but I can forgive them.

---

I am that Masked Man.

Your boos mean nothing to me, I've seen what you cheer for.

Insisting on your rights without acknowledging your responsibilities isn’t freedom, it’s adolescence.

I've been to the edge of the map, and there be monsters.

We are a government of laws, not men.

Everybody counts or nobody counts.

When a good man is hurt,
all who would be called good
must suffer with him.

You and I have memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead.

There is no safety for honest men except
by believing all possible evil of evil men.

We don’t do focus groups. They just ensure that you don’t offend anyone, and produce bland inoffensive products. —Sir Jonathan Ive

An armed society is a polite society.
And hope is a lousy defense.

You make me pull, I'll put you down.

I *love* SIGs. It's Glocks I hate.

Quote
RAMd®d
Mine will be. I will add the Visible $5 watch plan and try it out.


I'd gladly pay att $5/mo for that service.

But they want $15/mo plus the taxes, so it's probably closer to $20.



56 degrees is not frigid. not by about 20 degrees.


Maybe not frigid, but spending a little time free diving in 50º water with no wet suit, I'll say it's cold enough to sap energy and definitely ruin someone's day via hypothermia.

Did this woman have a wet suit on?

I don't know, but with her foot trapped and basically immobile, she likely wasn't concerned about a distinction, particularly if she isn't SEAL drownproofed.

The author was in error, but I can forgive them.

1 to 3 hrs. to get hypothermia at that temp. In 35 degree water it's more like 15 min.