Swimmer rescued after calling for help on smart watch | Today Show Australia

Summary

In a remarkable tale of survival, seasoned surfer Rick Sheran was rescued after being dragged a kilometer out to sea near Byron Bay. Using his Apple Watch, he dialed emergency services for help when he found himself unable to return to shore amidst rough waters. The quick response of rescuer Alex Carol and his team led to a successful rescue, showcasing the life-saving potential of modern technology. Rick expresses his gratitude to Alex and the entire rescue team, highlighting the seamless and efficient operation that saved his life.

Takeaways

• 🏊‍♂️ A swimmer was saved by using his Apple Watch while treading water in rough seas.
• 📱 The swimmer, Rick Sheran, was able to call for help using the SOS feature on his Apple Watch after being dragged a kilometer out to sea.
• 🌊 Rick Sheran encountered big waves and got caught in the impact zone, realizing he was in trouble and needed help.
• 🆘 He used the Apple Watch's SOS feature to dial emergency services without having a cellular plan attached to the device.
• 🚁 Alex Carol, a rescuer from the Gold Coast, was part of the team that responded to the emergency call and helped save Rick.
• 🔍 The rescue team was initially tasked with searching for a potential missing swimmer and quickly mobilized to the scene.
• 🕒 The rescue was time-critical, and the team was airborne within minutes of receiving the call.
• 🤝 Rick expressed his gratitude to Alex and the rescue team for their efforts, acknowledging that he owes his life to them.
• 🤔 Rick was unsure if the SOS call would connect due to not having a plan with his Apple Watch, but it worked and saved him.
• 🌐 The script highlights the capabilities of modern technology, specifically the Apple Watch, in emergency situations.
• 📹 The transcript is from a YouTube channel that covers news, special reports, and Australian stories.

Q & A

What was the initial situation that led to Rick Sheran being in trouble?

Rick Sheran was a seasoned surfer who went for his regular morning swim. After being in the water for about 20 minutes, he encountered big waves and got caught in the impact zone, which held him under water and drained his energy.

How did Rick Sheran realize he was in serious trouble?

Rick realized he was in trouble when he was unable to make his way back to shore due to the large waves and was losing his breath and energy.

What was Rick's strategy to get out of the situation before using his Apple Watch?

Rick tried to find an exit point to make his way into shore, but the waves were too big. He then decided to make a beeline for beyond the breakers to get out of the impact zone.

How did Rick Sheran use his Apple Watch to call for help?

Rick remembered that his Apple Watch had an SOS feature, which he had never used before. He quickly figured out how to use it and engaged a call through to emergency services.

What was the initial response from emergency services when Rick called for help?

Emergency services dispatched a helicopter from Surf Life New South Wales to Rick's location, with the rescue team gearing up and airborne within minutes.

How did Alex Carol, the rescuer, describe the rescue operation?

Alex described the rescue as time-critical, with the helicopter being prepared and launched quickly. The location was about 10 minutes away from the Gold Coast, making it a fast-paced operation.

What was Rick's reaction when he was rescued?

Rick expressed his gratitude to Alex and all the agencies involved, stating that he was eternally grateful and that he owed his life to them.

How did Rick feel about the Apple Watch's SOS feature after the incident?

Rick was amazed by the SOS feature on his Apple Watch. He was unsure if it would work since he didn't have a plan associated with it, but it successfully connected him to emergency services.

What was the distance Rick Sheran was dragged out to sea before he called for help?

Rick Sheran was dragged a kilometer out to sea before he used his Apple Watch to call for help.

What was the emotional impact of the incident on Rick and Alex?

The incident was emotionally intense for both Rick and Alex. Rick was grateful for his rescue, while Alex emphasized the urgency and importance of the rescue operation.

Outlines

00:00

🏊‍♂️ Apple Watch Saves Surfer in Distress

In this video script, seasoned surfer Rick Sheran recounts his near-death experience in rough seas near Byron Bay. After being dragged a kilometer out to sea, he cleverly uses his Apple Watch to dial emergency services for help. The call is answered, and a rescue operation is swiftly initiated. The segment also includes an interview with his rescuer, Alex Carol, who was part of the water rescue team dispatched by Surf Life Saving New South Wales. The story emphasizes the life-saving capabilities of modern technology and the efficiency of the rescue team's response.

Keywords

💡Apple Watch

Apple Watch is a smartwatch developed by Apple Inc. It is known for its various features including fitness tracking, notifications, and the ability to make phone calls. In the context of this video, the Apple Watch plays a crucial role as it is used by the swimmer to call for help when he is in distress in the sea. The swimmer mentions that he used his Apple Watch to dial emergency services, which ultimately led to his rescue.

💡Treading Water

Treading water is an action where a person floats in place by moving their legs and arms, typically in water. In the video, the swimmer is described as treading water in rough seas, highlighting the difficulty and danger he faced. This term is significant as it sets the scene for the emergency situation that unfolds.

💡Byron Bay

Byron Bay is a coastal town in New South Wales, Australia, known for its beautiful beaches and surfing culture. In the video, it is the location where the swimmer gets into trouble and is eventually rescued. The mention of Byron Bay provides geographical context to the story and underscores the setting of the incident.

💡Impact Zone

The impact zone in surfing refers to the area where waves break and the energy is concentrated. In the script, the swimmer describes getting caught in the impact zone, which is a dangerous situation as it involves powerful waves that can hold a person underwater. This term is key to understanding the severity of the swimmer's predicament.

💡Emergency Services

Emergency services are organizations dedicated to providing urgent assistance during emergencies, such as accidents, natural disasters, or medical crises. In the video, the swimmer uses his Apple Watch to contact emergency services, which promptly sends a rescue team to save him. The role of emergency services is central to the narrative as they facilitate the successful rescue.

💡Rescuer

A rescuer is a person who saves or attempts to save someone from danger or a life-threatening situation. In this video, Alex Carol is the rescuer who is dispatched to save the swimmer. The term is significant as it identifies the individual responsible for the swimmer's rescue and highlights the heroism involved.

💡Surf Life Saving New South Wales

Surf Life Saving New South Wales is an organization dedicated to beach safety and rescue services in New South Wales, Australia. In the video, they are the ones who initially task the rescuer to respond to the potential missing swimmer. This term is important as it identifies the organization responsible for coordinating the rescue operation.

💡Helicopter

A helicopter is a type of aircraft that can take off and land vertically and hover in the air. In the script, the rescuer uses a helicopter to quickly reach the swimmer in distress. The use of a helicopter is significant as it demonstrates the urgency and efficiency of the rescue operation.

💡Seas

Seas are large bodies of saltwater that are connected to oceans. In the video, the swimmer is in rough seas, which is a dangerous environment characterized by strong waves and currents. The term 'seas' is crucial in setting the scene and understanding the challenges faced by the swimmer.

💡SOS Feature

An SOS feature, or signal, is a distress signal used to request immediate assistance. In the video, the swimmer uses the SOS feature on his Apple Watch to send out a distress call. This feature is pivotal to the story as it enables the swimmer to communicate his dire situation and request help.

💡Energy Stocks

In the context of the video, 'energy stocks' refers to the swimmer's physical energy reserves. The swimmer mentions that he hadn't had his morning coffee, indicating that his energy levels were low, which made it difficult for him to fight against the strong waves. This term is used to emphasize the swimmer's vulnerability and the urgency of his situation.

Highlights

Swimmer Rick Sheran was saved by using his Apple Watch while treading water in rough seas.

Rick was dragged a kilometer out to sea near Byron Bay before using his watch to dial triple zero.

Rick describes his regular morning swim that turned into a life-threatening situation.

He encountered big waves and got caught in the impact zone, struggling to stay afloat.

Rick realized he was in trouble and needed to find a way to get out of the dangerous situation.

He discovered the SOS feature on his Apple Watch and called emergency services for help.

Rescuer Alex Carol from the Gold Coast was dispatched to find and rescue Rick.

Alex and his team were airborne within minutes, racing against time to save Rick.

Rick expresses his gratitude to Alex and all the agencies involved in the rescue.

He was amazed that the emergency call from his watch connected without a plan.

The rescue was seamless, efficient, and ultimately saved Rick's life.

Rick is eternally grateful for the efforts of the rescuers and volunteers.

The story highlights the importance of modern technology in emergency situations.

It also showcases the quick response and dedication of rescue teams.

The successful rescue demonstrates the power of human ingenuity and teamwork.

Rick's story is an incredible example of survival against the odds.

Transcripts

welcome back great to have your company

a swimmer treading water in rough Seas

has been saved by using his Apple watch

is that amazing to call for help

incredible extraordinary seasoned body

Surfer Rick Sheran and had been dragged

a kilometer out to see near byon Bay

before using his watch to dial triple Z

he joins us live now from Byron Bay as

well as his rescuer Alex Carol on the

Gold Coast good to see you both what a

remarkable story Rick I mean thank

goodness for modern technology right

talk us through what happened

yeah good morning thanks for having me

I'm stoked to be here um yeah so it's

just a regular day for me you know woke

up um Saturday morning go for my regular

Sunday morning or you know every morning

swim um grabbed the togs and jumped in

the swim uh jumped in the surf for a you

know a quick 5 minute swim um you know I

was act actively seeking out some some

uh nice waves and um I found them and um

after being out in the water for about

20 minutes it was just getting a bit

gnarly so I decided to make my way in

and and um yeah on my way into to shore

I en encountered a lot of you know big

dumpers and got caught in the Impact

Zone and held under um was losing my

breath and you knowt losing my energy so

um I hadn't had my morning weedies as I

said I just got out of bed so I was well

aware my energy stocks were low and um I

I couldn't take any more on the head I

needed to get out of there so I um I

just um made a a be line for out the

back Beyond The Breakers so you ended up

a long way out you realize you're in

trouble how does the call go um on your

phone talk us through that

yeah okay well uh once I got out the

backy on the breakers I was um still

unfazed you know I was kept a cool head

and trying to work out you know uh to

find an exit point to to make my way

into Shaw but it was just uh so bloody

big it was impossible and I had to take

stock of you know next best options what

what could I do to get out of this

situation and um honestly I was stuck

and it was at that time that I realized

I had this you know Apple watch on and

it's the kind of like the extreme

version of it and I thought there must

be some kind of SOS feature on it so uh

I had had no reason to look at that

before but worked it out on the Fly and

engaged a shot through sorry engaged a

call through to emergency services and

and uh great relief you know I had no

idea that that was you're you're on the

phone and said hey I I'm I'm just out

the back um Aton Bay come find me and

then you call and this guy um below Alex

gets sent out Alex what did do you think

about the whole

situation uh well we were initially

tasked by surf Li sing New South Wales

uh to a potential missing

swimmer and as soon as I got into my

water rescue gear the pilot and air crew

prepped the helicopter pushed it out the

hanger we were Airborne within minutes

uh obviously the um the location is

isn't 10 minutes away from from the goal

Coast so it was a very time critical

rescue situation for us yeah incredible

I can't imagine you would have received

many calls from somebody's eye watch but

um I just want to come back to you Rick

do you have anything to say to Alex I

know that two of you haven't really had

a chance to catch up since that

happened yeah no sorry Alex I had a bit

going on the other day when I saw you um

I didn't get a chance to properly thank

you for your efforts mate was um I'm so

you know eternally grateful for you and

all the efforts of all the agencies

agency staff volunteers involved mate uh

it was an incred incredible effort it

was uh you know seamless and efficient

and you I owe my life to you guys and

you know the fact that I was able to

make that emergency call from my watch

is yeah amazing I wasn't honestly sure

it was going to connect because I don't

actually have a plan with this watch you

know like a I don't pay any money for a

plan actually I don't know hooked up via

satellite or E I really don't know how

it worked but yeah got me out of trouble

for sure well done to both of you guys

um and and it's very Sharky out there

I'm glad you're all right big fell I

know the emotions are pretty present

still so thanks thanks coming got we got

to roll thank you mate hey there fans

Sarah

and what's my name again Carl hey thanks

for watching our YouTube channel though

subscribe now for more news special

reports and amazing Aussie stories and

Kyle misbehaving of course that never

happens always happens talking about

always happens