Two experienced canyoneers found themselves stranded in a canyon late on Sunday, September 17, with no safe anchors to carry on their descent. Fortuitously, their innovative thinking and a touch of providence led them to activate the Emergency SOS feature on their Apple iPhones, which in turn would play a crucial role in their rescue.
According to Pasadena Now, these hikers were in an area without phone service. This predicament could easily have spelled disaster, but the unique SOS feature, utilizing satellite communications, allowed their signal to reach emergency services. In response to the call, the Altadena Mountain Rescue Team (AMRT) sprang into action, already weary from a long day of training and two other rescue calls.
Trekking through rugged terrain, the AMRT was able to visually locate the stranded hikers with the assistance of Sierra Madre Search & Rescue. The stakes only escalated with the knowledge that there was no established trail leading to their location, and the surrounding conditions – a 200-foot cliff in darkness – made matters even more perilous. Ultimately, a Los Angeles County Fire helicopter was dispatched to extract the hikers, deeming the situation too unsafe for any other method of rescue.
At approximately 1 a.m. on September 18, the hikers were extracted from the canyon and flown to Farnsworth Park in Altadena, as mentioned by the AMRT.
The iPhone's Emergency SOS feature, in this case, proved instrumental in connecting the hikers with emergency services. Its ability to communicate with satellite networks allowed for a lifeline in the absence of regular phone service.
