Kayaker Rescued After Three Hours in Lake Superior Thanks to Smartwatch

A 36-year-old kayaker was rescued three hours after falling into the chilly waters of Lake Superior, thanks to his smartwatch. The man was able to alert authorities himself using his smart device after his paddling trip on the world's largest freshwater lake, the coldest and deepest of the Great Lakes, came to an abrupt end. The incident occurred near Black Bay, close to the border between Canada and the United States.

The Role of the Smartwatch in the Rescue

The Nipigon police were able to locate him three hours later based on the GPS signal from his smartwatch. Matthew Foster of the Ontario police stated, "Despite the high waves, he could be found because officers could see live where he was." He added that without a life jacket and smartwatch, the situation could have been fatal. Prolonged exposure to the cold water can lead to hypothermia. "Without a life jacket, you wouldn't last two hours if you fell into the water," he said.

According to CTV News, the kayaker was taken to the hospital for care and has since been discharged. This incident underscores the life-saving potential of wearable technology like smartwatches, which can provide real-time location data in emergencies.