ICYMI: Skiers Plunge 1,000 Feet in Washington Wilderness—Rescued by Apple SOS Alert
A chilling fall left skiers stranded in Washington state wilderness until an Apple SOS alert led rescuers straight to them. 🌐 #News #SkykomishWA #Washington #Rescue
SKYKOMISH, WA – A desperate backcountry skiing trip took a terrifying turn when three skiers fell hundreds of feet down a steep Washington mountain. Stranded in total darkness, with no cell service and serious injuries, their only lifeline was a single SOS alert sent from an Apple device—leading to a dramatic helicopter rescue.
Emergency SOS Triggers Rapid Response
On Jan. 22, the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office received a distress signal from an Apple iOS device, signaling an emergency near Steven’s Pass.
The message was brief but urgent—a male skier had plummeted approximately 1,000 feet, suffering a severe leg injury. With no cellular reception in the rugged backcountry, the device connected via satellite to transmit the call for help.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, authorities immediately contacted the King County Sheriff’s Office Air Support Unit. As night fell, a rescue helicopter, Guardian 1, was dispatched to locate the stranded group.
Nightfall Rescue in Dangerous Terrain
A video shared by the King County Sheriff Air Support captured the intense moment the helicopter crew spotted the skiers. Stranded at the base of a treacherous slope, the group waved frantically to attract the rescuers’ attention.
“They were down at the base of some really steep terrain, near some pretty tall trees,” King County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Pilot Tony Mullinax said.
“It was really, really dark where we were going.”
With conditions growing more challenging, a second helicopter, Guardian 2, deployed a rescuer who was lowered to the skiers’ location. One by one, the injured were carefully secured for extraction.
Survivors Face Painful Injuries
Rescuers discovered that two of the skiers had suffered brutal falls, tumbling nearly 500 feet down the unforgiving terrain. One sustained a broken leg, while the other suffered a broken wrist and an injured knee. The third skier, though shaken, was miraculously unharmed.
“They’re all hurting, but they’re all going to be just fine,” Deputy Mike McLeod of the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office said.
“It’ll just take some time.”
Thanks to the quick response from rescue teams—and the life-saving technology of Apple’s emergency SOS feature—the three skiers escaped what could have been a far worse fate.
RELATED TOPICS: Accidents and Rescues | Washington
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