Malcolm Owen
A trail runner in Norway has credited the existence of the Apple Watch for being able to call an ambulance after falling during a run.
Following a holiday, investment director Robert Naess decided to go for a trail run, with his time off prompting him to run faster than usual. However, an accident on the run led to a hospital visit, one helped by the Apple Watch.
After starting at 7 A.M. outside of Bergen, Norway, 59-year-old Naess slipped at one bend, despite being a keen runner and having ran the route a number of times.
The skid had Naess fall chest-first into the edge of a wall, before landing on the floor. Verdens Gang reports the impact cracked multiple ribs, and collapsed one of his lungs.
Due to ending up in severe pain and with breathing problems, he could not pull out his iPhone to call an ambulance. However, he was wearing an Apple Watch and was listening to podcasts via AirPods.
Rather than wait for Fall Detection to kick in, he placed the call to the emergency services himself. Approximately 15 minutes later, he was attended to near the road and taken to Haukeland Hospital.
During the 15-minute wait, Naess notes over 100 cars drove past his location. He reasons that he didn't get any assistance because it was hard to see him from the road, and that it was difficult for traffic to stop there, either.
Doctors confirmed the collapsed lung and broken ribs, before treating abrasions on his face and legs.
After recovering from the ordeal, Naess claims the Apple Watch saved his life, since he had no opportunity to move and was in a critical state. He adds that the next time he runs that route, he will be extra careful at that particular bend.
The Apple Watch has repeatedly been praised for saving lives and helping wearers in tough situations. In June, an Ontario man was helped thanks to the Apple Watch Fall Detection feature, while a woman in Cincinnati was saved from a high-risk blood clot.
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
AppleInsider Staff
Chip Loder
6 Comments
You're a much better writer than whatever you use to write that story.
What other apple products worked as intended today? Can we get a story on those also?
I can credit my Apple Watch to saving my life. Last week, my family and I took a 16 hour train ride from Sanford,Fl to Lorton,VA with Amtrak Auto Train. Every seat was filled and with multiple people coughing, I didn’t eat, drink, nor move out of my seat for the entire ride. We arrived at the station and after taking 3-4 steps once exiting the train, I felt chest tightness, rapid heart beating, lightheaded and dizziness, I passed out and was unconscious. Unknown to me, the fall detection kicked in and because I didn’t respond, my Watch called emergency services before anyone did. Long story short, I was diagnosed with a Pulmonary Embolism in both lungs and was hospitalized for 5 days. Because of this I am alive and thankful for my watch.