Stranded hikers rescued by little-known iPhone SOS satellite feature

A group of stranded hikers in the Colorado snow during the festive season was rescued by an often overlooked iPhone feature: the SOS satellite feature. While many users tend to ignore safety features, this incident highlights the critical role they can play in emergencies.

The Gilpin County Dispatch Center received an SOS signal from the iPhone Satellite Emergency Relay Center at 6:10 pm on Monday, informing them about a Toyota Tacoma stranded in the mountains of Gilpin County, near Denver. With no cell phone signal, the group was unable to call for help directly.

At 6:50 pm, Gilpin County sheriffs contacted the Colorado 4×4 Rescue Group and Recovery for assistance. The rescue group was dispatched to the area at 8:15 pm. By 9:40 pm, they located the stranded vehicle, finding all members of the group in good health, despite being cold.

Kimi McBryde, the public information officer for Colorado 4×4 Rescue, mentioned the challenge of not having all the information when responding to an SOS signal, stating, “So pro of the iPhone: we found out they needed help. Con, you don’t necessarily get all the information.”

The SOS satellite feature is available on iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 15, and iPhone 15 Pro. According to Apple Support, it enables users to connect with emergency services via satellite under exceptional circumstances when no other means of communication are available. For this feature to work, users need to be outside with a clear view of the sky and horizon.

This incident serves as a reminder of the potential life-saving capabilities of advanced smartphone features, especially in remote and emergency situations.