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Smartwatch Saves Bodysurfer Lost at Sea (Video)

Originally posted on SURFER | By Dashel Pierson | Last updated Apr 23, 2025 1:26 PM ET

Despite the abstract dystopian futures of artificial intelligence turning on humanity, a population of cyborg zombies, the prophetic “singularity” event, et al, technology has its undeniable benefits. Case in point: saving lives. And one man experienced this, quite literally, firsthand.

Rick Shearman was bodysurfing Byron Bay last year, when conditions shifted quickly, and he found himself being sucked out to sea. Soon, he was about a mile offshore, treading water, clinging to life. And so, he acted; he activated a distress signal on his Apple Watch, prompting rescuers to come and find him via helicopter, and save his life. Hear Shearman tell the tale below:

“I was out there for 15, 20 minutes and it just kept getting bigger and gnarlier,” Shearman said. “I was facing the fact that I might be treading water for up to an hour or two. I tried that emergency feature out of desperation, and yeah, was pretty astounded when it dialed through to triple zero. I stayed on the line until the chopper came over the horizon and picked me up.”

Now, nearly a year after his rescue, Apple is using Shearman’s story in a new campaign.

“I’m calling from my Apple Watch,” Shearman can be heard in the ad, a hint of panic in his voice. “I was bodysurfing, but I’ve been sucked right out to sea in Byron Bay.”

It’s not the first time a smartwatch has been credited with saving someone’s life, not even close. There’s been numerous accounts of wearable technologies swooping in and rescuing people – whether it’s as a result of heart rate detection, a fall, a car crash, etc.

For Shearman, he added: “If it wasn’t for being able to access that service in my watch I’d probably be bobbing out somewhere in international waters by now.”

This article first appeared on SURFER and was syndicated with permission.

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