It’s not uncommon to lose electronic devices like an iPhone or Apple Watch to the sea, as numerous cases have been reported. While many users rely on Apple’s Find My feature for recovery, this particular incident stands out. An iPhone that went missing at sea was returned to its rightful owner thanks to the Medical ID feature.
Discover how Medical ID facilitated the recovery of an iPhone lost at sea
Thiago Itagaki shared on Threads that while swimming at Maresias, a beach in São Paulo, Brazil, he stumbled upon a submerged iPhone. He noted that the device was about “3 meters deep” and “approximately 10 meters from the shore.” Although he inquired with beachgoers about a lost phone, no one claimed ownership.
“The phone was completely drained. It also had a case containing three credit cards. I attempted to identify the owner by name but couldn’t find a definite match,” explained the discoverer of the phone. Once the iPhone dried out, he decided to connect it to a charger, and to his relief, it powered up. He then considered using the Medical ID feature to locate the owner.
For those who may not know, the Medical ID on an iPhone allows individuals to see crucial information about the user, even without needing a password, in emergencies. This includes details such as allergies, blood type, and emergency contacts. The latter aspect played a vital role in Thiago connecting with the iPhone’s owner.
“I dialed a contact named ‘Love’ and successfully reached the phone’s owner. The couple, from São Paulo, had already left Maresias. The owner had lost the iPhone on New Year’s Eve, and it had spent four days underwater, yet it was still functioning. I initially thought the phone had been there for only a few hours, but it had actually been days,” he recounted.
Thiago expressed that the owner was “incredibly thankful” for his kind act. He mentioned to DMN that he never expected the tale “would garner so much interest,” as it has already racked up thousands of likes on Threads. “People seem to be losing phones in the most surprising places,” he remarked.
It’s important to remember that iPhones have featured water resistance since the seventh model. However, this resistance is only guaranteed to a certain depth and over a limited duration.
The key takeaway is to ensure your Medical ID is updated with emergency contacts, as it could prove invaluable in the future. To access your Medical ID, open the Health app and tap on your profile picture at the top of the screen.
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