Body surfer swept out to sea by rough waves rescued by his smartwatch: 'I underestimated it'

As much as conservative minds label technology as a distraction, time and again, technology proves its worthiness. Smartwatches are now known for saving many lives around the world. One such incident ensued in the coastal town of Byron Bay in New South Wales, Australia. Rick Shearman, a resident of the town, was on a casual morning surf on July 13 when he got caught in the rough waves and struggled to reach the shore. Though the 49-year-old was a frequent body surfer, this time he found himself helpless and it was his Apple watch that came to his rescue, reports Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

What was expected to be a regular body surf session in Tallow Beach turned out to be a nightmare when Shearman got caught in the impact zone. This risky zone where the waves begin to break pinned the Byron Bay man under the water for a while. "I started to panic a bit and cramp up underwater there," Shearman told the news channel. Being an experienced swimmer, Shearman refrained from fighting the waves and let the rip current carry him to still waters. He also realized that his partner, who was on the beach, might've gone shopping so there was no way of expecting her to call for help. In his Facebook post, Shearman credited being calm the whole time for helping him overcome the distressing situation. 

Though the surfer was used to being caught in rip currents, this time it was different. Usually, he wouldn't freak out and let the current carry him away until he found an exit channel to the shore. "But this wasn't going north or south, it was going straight out to sea," he explained. Realizing that he shouldn't wait it out, Shearman remembered that he could call emergency services through his smartwatch. When they asked if he wanted police, fire or ambulance, he was totally out of words. "At this point, I was a long way out to sea, I was being buffeted by wind and big swells and it was quite difficult to utilize the watch. I had to hold it up to my ear to hear what was going on and speak to the respondent," he shared.

Shearman floated in the sea for over an hour patiently while he directed emergency services to him. Surf Life Saving Far North Coast and Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service Queensland rushed to Shearman's rescue. The swimmer was air-lifted to safety by a rescue helicopter and dropped on the beach from where he was then taken to a hospital. As per first responders, the search for Shearman in such rough waters and vast sea area could've lasted days if not for his Apple watch. The swimmer too realized that without his smartwatch, the rip current would've carried him away somewhere far into the international waters. "I underestimated it. It's amazing that I was able to use that technology to save my life," Shearman added.

Shearman's story might be an eye-opening lesson for many that even experienced swimmers and surfers can get caught in the risks of ocean currents. The body surfer was quite grateful for the rescue services and emphasized that this incident had made him more cautious about the dangers of the ocean, reports 9 News. "No doubt I caused a lot of people on the beach distress, which I am apologetic for," he added.  "We would like to remind everyone to please check conditions before entering the water, even in winter conditions can change quickly," warned Chief Pilot Paul Gibson, who was a part of the rescue team.