Apple Watch Saves Life of Cyclist in New York City: A Real-Life Story of Fall Detection Feature’s Lifesaving Power

In a recent incident in New York City, Apple’s innovative technology was once again showcased as life-saving. A 49-year-old cyclist, Eric Zollinger, experienced an accident that could have been fatal had it not been for his Apple Watch’s fall detection feature. According to a report from The New York Post, Zollinger’s evening commute took a serious turn when he hit a hidden pothole submerged beneath floodwater due to inclement weather. The cyclist was thrown off his bike and crashed onto the pavement in a jarring fall.

Despite initially being able to continue on his journey home, Zollinger soon realized the severity of his injuries when he noticed significant blood loss from his nose while showering. Moments later, he collapsed, hitting his body against the tub. Fortunately, Zollinger’s Apple Watch sprang into action as soon as it detected the fall and promptly initiated a call to 911 and connected him with an emergency operator. Regaining consciousness, Zollinger was surprised to hear the operator’s voice coming from his watch, asking about his well-being and coordinating necessary assistance.

The timely intervention facilitated by the Apple Watch proved critical in ensuring that Zollinger received urgent medical attention. Grateful for the watch’s swift response, Zollinger emphasized its importance in potentially saving his life. “I don’t know how things would have gone for me if the watch hadn’t alerted me,” said the relieved Apple enthusiast. “It’s very clever of the watch. Apple thinks of everything.”

For those who are unfamiliar with how the fall detection feature works, upon detecting a fall, the watch vibrates, sounds an alarm, and displays an alert confirming your status. If no response is received within 60 seconds or more than one minute has passed since you fell over without moving or responding to any input on your device (e.g., tap-to-cancel), it will automatically contact emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.