Apple’s iPhone SOS Feature Triggers Helicopter Rescue in B.C.

A hiker with an ankle injury near Della Falls was rescued on June 13, after using their iPhone’s satellite emergency feature to call for help, according to the Alberni Valley Rescue Squad (AVRS) last week.

Della Falls is located within Strathcona Provincial Park on Vancouver Island, British Columbia,

Apple’s Emergency SOS via satellite lets users contact emergency services even when there’s no cell signal. It connects the iPhone directly to a satellite overhead, allowing short emergency texts to be sent and locations to be shared with rescuers. The feature is available on iPhone 14 models and newer and so far remains a free feature. This hiker was lucky to have their iPhone available that supported this feature.

The call for help came in late at night. AVRS had a boat and rescue team ready to go, but after reviewing the rugged terrain and long trail ahead, search managers decided to delay the ground rescue and instead send a helicopter at first light.

The hiker was in stable condition and well-prepared to spend the night. When the helicopter arrived near the base of Della Falls, the injured person was spotted in a safe landing area, making a risky hoist unnecessary. The patient was then flown out, transferred to BC Ambulance Services, and taken to West Coast General Hospital for further care.

Accessing Della Falls is not short task. Located in Strathcona Provincial Park, it’s one of Canada’s tallest waterfalls at 440 metres, which obviously attracts hikers that want to witness it.

From Port Alberni, you need to cross Great Central Lake (35 km) via water taxi, canoe, or chartered helicopter/float plane to the trailhead, then hike the nearly 15.5 km Della Falls Trail (31 km round trip, 350–3664 ft elevation gain, 2–4 days), with alternate options including paddling from access points like Ark Resort or a risky overland bushwhack, though the water taxi and hike remain the most practical route.

AVRS says the hiker did everything right: they activated SOS early, waited calmly, and even helped flag down the helicopter in the morning. “This was a well-executed rescue,” the squad said. “But if you’re in trouble or unsure, don’t wait—call search and rescue early so we can plan a safe and effective response.”

Apple’s Emergency SOS via Satellite feature has paid dividends for hikers in B.C. Last year, we heard of at least two stories where the iPhone feature helped rescue those lost and stranded.

In the future, SpaceX’s Starlink Direct to Cell feature, currently with Rogers as the first Canadian partner, will allow any LTE device connect to a satellite and call for help (and maybe watch TikTok videos out in the wilderness as well).