After falling more than 130 feet, 17-year-old Smit Metha in India was able to contact for assistance thanks to the Apple Watch. Metha broke both of his ankles in the fall, but thanks to the Apple Watch’s cellular connectivity, he was able to call for aid and avoid worse-case scenarios.
On a wet day, Metha was trekking with two of his buddies when he appeared to decide to leave the group for a short while. The Times of India reported that he fell 130 feet off the trail into the valley as a result of slipping in the rain due to the stormy circumstances.
After the fall, Metha learned his iPhone 13 was in his friend’s rucksack and wasn’t with him. But he saw right away that his Apple Watch Series 7 had made it through the fall and was still plugged onto the cellular network. Emergency services showed up two hours after Metha made a call to his friends and family using his Apple Watch.
In an interview with the Times of India, Metha said, “I weighed 99 kg at the time of the fall and I am over 6 feet tall, so it wasn’t easy at all. The report states that because of the rainy weather, he was actually the seventh accident to occur on that same trail that day.
As I couldn’t shift weight on my legs and was in a wheelchair for a while, I had to endure a lengthy period of rehabilitation, Metha said. But after using the Apple Watch, he was motivated to get in touch with Tim Cook, the company’s CEO.
In the email, he described the incident, saying, “My Apple Watch saved me by allowing me to make those crucial phone calls.” Soon later, Metha got the following reply from Cook:
Smit,
I’m so glad you are on the road to recovery. It sounds like a terrible accident. Thanks so much for sharing your story with us.
I wish you a full and speedy recovery.
Best,
Tim
This is simply another illustration of how valuable the Apple Watch is, even for capabilities as basic as cellular connectivity.
