Eric Zollinger, a 49-year-old real estate broker based in Midtown West, recounted his harrowing experience to Kennedy News, expressing gratitude for the smartwatch's emergency features.
"I feel very fortunate and grateful at what transpired and how my Apple Watch helped me," Zollinger said. "It's very clever of the watch. Apple thinks of everything."
The incident occurred last month when Zollinger was cycling home from his office amidst a torrential downpour. He was riding a Citi Bike, a mode of transport he frequently uses due to the proximity of his office to his apartment. However, his usual commute took a dangerous turn when he encountered an 8-inch-deep pothole filled with water, effectively camouflaged by the heavy rain.
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"We had had a massive storm so the pothole was completely flooded," Zollinger explained. "All of a sudden I looked up, and it's all flooded and there was traffic behind me. I had to ride through it."
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The hidden pothole caused his bike to get stuck, resulting in Zollinger being thrown onto the pavement. Despite the initial shock and pain, his first concern was for his dental veneers, fitted a few years prior. Fortunately, they remained intact, but he had sustained injuries to his right knee, face, and lip.
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After the accident, Zollinger managed to walk his bike home, where he discovered a broken nose and a bruised face. However, the situation escalated when his nose began to bleed profusely while he was in the shower, causing him to faint from dizziness.
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In a surprising turn of events, Zollinger awoke to the sound of a 911 operator speaking through his Apple Watch. The device's built-in fall detection feature had been triggered by his fall in the bathroom, automatically dialing emergency services.
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"The next thing I remember hearing is, '911, what's your emergency?'" Zollinger recalled. He further explained that his watch had also alerted his emergency contacts with a map indicating his exact location.
Following the incident, Zollinger sought medical attention at a local hospital. Despite the severity of his injuries, scans revealed that nothing was broken, and he was discharged shortly after. However, self-conscious about his facial injuries, he chose to remain in his apartment for three days.
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"I looked like a monster," Zollinger admitted. His bruising subsided within two weeks, and he is now recovering well.
Zollinger is not the first to credit the Apple Watch for its life-saving features. In December, a Delaware woman used the device's SOS feature to call for help during a carbon monoxide leak. Earlier this year, a British man's Apple Watch alerted him to the fact that his heart had stopped nearly 138 times in 48 hours, potentially saving his life.
As for Zollinger, he is grateful for his smartwatch's intervention. "I don't know how things would have gone for me if the watch hadn't alerted me," he said, highlighting the critical role technology can play in personal safety.
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