Diver Recovers Lost Apple Watch After Over a Year in the Ocean
Who would have thought that a piece of technology could survive the ocean’s depths and still make its way back home after more than a year? Well, that’s exactly what happened to Jared Brick, who miraculously recovered his lost Apple Watch thanks to Apple’s Find My feature.
How it all began
In the summer of 2022, Jared Brick, founder of Brick House Media, took a family trip to the picturesque British Virgin Islands to celebrate his son’s 11th birthday. As an avid diver, Jared purchased Apple Watches for both himself and his son to stay connected even underwater, where regular devices fail. These watches can handle depths up to 50 meters, or approximately 164 feet.
During their vacation, Jared used his Apple Watch to track the time and log his dives, some of which went over 100 feet deep. Things were going smoothly until their visit to a picturesque spot called The Baths on Virgin Gorda. While swimming and jumping off boulders in the area, Jared’s watch slid off his wrist and disappeared, becoming yet another treasure lost to the sea.
Realizing the Loss
“I didn’t realize it at the time, I was so distracted by the true beauty of that place,” Jared shared in a video he later posted on YouTube to recount the experience. Once he realized that his watch was missing, he sprang into action. Using another Apple device, he marked the Apple Watch as lost using the Find My feature. But being miles away from the area, he gave up hope of ever seeing it again.
A Christmas Miracle
Fast forward to December 2023 when Jared received an unexpected phone call from a local resident of Virgin Gorda. The caller, named Jonathan, said that he had discovered Jared’s watch on the same beach. After charging it, a lost message with Jared’s contact number popped up on the screen. This message allowed Jonathan to get in touch with Jared to return the much-missed gadget.
With the aid of the Find My feature, not only was the Apple Watch found, but it also miraculously survived the 3,600-mile journey back to its owner in Felton, California, unscathed. The watch arrived in perfect working condition in late April of 2024 – exactly 22 months after it was lost.
“Thank You, Jonathan!”
Jared’s video captures the poignant moments of him receiving the Apple Watch. He was visibly thrilled upon opening the envelope, finding the watch intact and operational. In his heartfelt gratitude, he thanks Jonathan, the local Good Samaritan, as well as Apple for developing such a robust and reliable piece of technology.
“So big thank you to Jonathan in the Caribbean for finding it, contacting me, shipping it back to me, and for Apple for making amazing technology that works,” Jared said in his documentary video.
The Power of Find My
Jared’s story is not unique. Many Apple Watch users have lost their devices only to have them returned through the power of the Find My feature. Apple’s feature operates even offline by sending signals to nearby Apple devices, which then relay the location back to the owner’s Find My app. This function has proven to be a game-changer for those who misplace their cherished Apple devices.
This story of an Apple Watch enduring the elements and heading back to its home is a testament to both the durability of the device and the effectiveness of the Find My technology. For those still skeptical about the reliability of wearables, Jared Brick’s tale might just change their minds.
Watch the Fascinating Story
If you want to dive deeper into Jared’s emotional reunion with his Apple Watch, you can view his video on YouTube here.
Conclusion
Jared Brick’s experience showcases not only a heartwarming act of kindness but also highlights the impressive durability and reliability of modern technology. From a depth of more than a hundred feet to surviving over a year in the salty ocean water, the Apple Watch proved its mettle. This remarkable story serves as a reminder of how technology, combined with a touch of human kindness, can create miracles.
Priyanka