A 49-year-old experienced swimmer and surfer from Byron Bay found himself in a life-threatening situation while body surfing at Tallow Beach in New South Wales, Australia.
On what seemed like a regular Saturday morning surf, Rick Shearman was caught in the surf's impact zone.
The situation quickly escalated as he was repeatedly hit by large waves, causing him to cramp and panic.
Despite his experience and familiarity with ocean conditions, Shearman found himself unable to make it back to shore.
"I copped a couple of big ones on the head and was held under for a while," he recounted.
Recognizing the danger of fighting against the powerful current, he allowed himself to be carried further out to sea, hoping to find a channel that would help him return to the beach.
However, after 20 minutes of being dragged farther from the shore and realizing he was almost a kilometer out at sea, Shearman knew he was fighting for survival and needed help.
Also, the entire stretch of beach from Broken Head to Suffolk Park was a continuous line of breaking waves, offering no safe passage back.
His partner, who was on the beach, was not an option as he assumed she had gone shopping.
"Do You Want Police, Fire, or Ambulance?"
That's when he remembered the Apple Watch strapped to his wrist.
Facing rough seas and strong winds, Shearman managed to use his smartwatch to call emergency services.
"It was perplexing when they asked if I wanted police, fire, or ambulance," he said.
Despite the difficulty of using the watch under such conditions, he held it to his ear to communicate with the emergency operator.
He stayed on the line for an hour, directing the rescue team to his location while being buffeted by waves.
Throughout this time, the bodysurfer maintained his composure.
"I've been caught in rips before, many times over the years, and never panicked - just let it take you where it takes you and find a way to exit the water," he explained.
Shearman's quick thinking and the technology proved to be lifesaving. A rescue helicopter was dispatched, and he was winched to safety.
Jimmy Keogh from Surf Life Saving Far North Coast noted that without the Apple Watch, the search area would have been vast, potentially involving multiple agencies and taking days.
"The search area for the person in the water with the conditions that we had would have been a pretty substantial search area involving multiple agencies that could have gone on for days as well," Keogh added.
"I Underestimated the Conditions"
After being transported to Terra Firma, Shearman expressed gratitude for the gadget that saved his life.
"If it weren't for being able to access that service in my watch, I'd probably be bobbing out somewhere in international waters by now," he said.
The bodysurfer also acknowledged the risks of the ocean and admitted that he underestimated the conditions that day.
Upon his return to the beach, Shearman was overwhelmed with relief and gratitude.
He was reunited with his family and friends, who had been anxiously awaiting his safe return.
The survivor thanked the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, Surf Life Saving, police, the ambulance crew, and the staff at Byron Bay Hospital for their coordinated efforts in his rescue.
He also apologized to those on the beach distressed by the incident.
Surf watches, especially those equipped with cellular connectivity and surf tracking, can play a critical role in emergency situations.
Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com
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