A family in Oregon utilized an iPhone feature to survive after becoming lost in the Mt. Hood National Forest. The family, consisting of two young children, embarked on a hike from the Salmon River Trailhead and found themselves stranded due to high altitude and severe weather conditions.
The Emergency SOS via satellite feature on their iPhone, available on iPhone 14 and 15 models, was activated for help. This feature allows users to contact emergency responders even when out of cell signal range by connecting to satellites above the Earth, which then relay messages and location to nearby responders.
The distress signal was received by the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office at 7:30 p.m., prompting a search-and-rescue operation. Ground crews faced challenges such as heavy snow, steep terrain, and fallen trees, delaying their arrival until 6 a.m. the following morning.
Despite an unsuccessful helicopter rescue attempt due to weather and terrain obstacles, rescuers eventually reached the family. They were found cold, wet, and dehydrated but otherwise unharmed. Transporting them back to safety proved difficult, requiring the use of a Snowcat vehicle.
The family and rescuers returned to safety 24 hours after the initial SOS call. The Emergency SOS feature has been credited with saving numerous lives, including a hiker and her dog in Utah swept away by flood waters and a student in Delaware saved from carbon monoxide poisoning.
