Oregon Fisherman Rescued After Being Pinned by Boulder, Calls for Help Using Apple Earbuds
A solo fishing trip turned perilous for Joseph Little when he became trapped under a massive boulder, but his Apple wireless earbuds allowed him to contact emergency services.
An Oregon fisherman survived a harrowing ordeal after becoming trapped under a boulder the size of a Volkswagen Beetle, using his Apple wireless earbuds to call for help. Joseph Little, 28, was on a solo fishing trip at Hammond Marina in Warrenton on September 26 when the accident occurred.
Little was standing on uneven rocks near the Columbia River when they became unstable, causing him to fall. He found himself pinned from the torso down by a heavy boulder, unable to reach his phone. In his predicament, he activated Siri on his Apple Beats Flex All-Day Wireless Earphones and placed a call to authorities.
Sgt. Dylan McCoy of the Warrenton Police Department received the alert around 7:00 a.m. and responded to the scene. After calling out for Little without a response, McCoy deployed a drone to aid in the search. The drone located Little approximately 400 feet from the shoreline within three minutes. McCoy observed that Little's face was bloody and that he was trapped beneath a large, slate-colored boulder.
Firefighters were unable to lift the ton-sized boulder due to its weight. Instead, they worked to shift rocks beneath Little, enabling him to free himself. The US Coast Guard airlifted the injured fisherman to Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria around 8:50 a.m.
Joseph Little sustained numerous fractures to his face. His mother, Mindy Little, described the situation as a "miracle" and expressed relief that her son was alive. She noted that he was trapped below the high-tide waterline, and that rising tides would have posed a fatal threat.
Little has since undergone facial reconstruction surgery. His family has established an online fundraiser to assist with his recovery and ongoing medical needs.