A surfer’s incredible survival story has come to light after he used his Apple Watch to call for help when he was swept 1km out to sea.

Rick Shearman was out for his usual morning body surf at Tallow Beach in Byron Bay on Saturday when the conditions suddenly became dangerous. “I went in for a quick five-minute swim, looking for some good waves,” he shared on the Today show. “But after about 20 minutes, the waves got pretty rough. I decided to head back, but I got caught in some big waves and ended up stuck in the impact zone.”

Struggling to catch his breath and feeling his energy drain, the 49-year-old surfer knew he needed to act fast. “I hadn’t even had my breakfast. I just got out of bed, so I knew I was running low on energy and couldn’t keep going,” he explained. With getting back to shore looking impossible, Rick had to think quickly. “I had to figure out my next move. I realized I had my Apple Watch on and thought there must be an SOS feature. I had never used it before, but I managed to make a call to emergency services,” he said.

Rick told the ABC that he was at sea for about an hour, communicating with emergency services to update them on his location. Rescuer Alex Caroll described the situation as a “very critical rescue” for Lifesaving NSW, which initially responded to reports of a potential missing swimmer. “We were notified just after 10 o’clock, and he was back on shore by 10.40 am, so it all happened pretty quickly,” Mr. Keough, Surf Life Saving NSW rescue coordinator, added.

The response was swift and effective. The Byron Bay and Lennox Head Surf Life Saving Clubs, Byron Bay lifeguards, and a Queensland Surf Life Saving helicopter were all involved in the rescue. Rick was winched from the water, suffering from minor cramps and exposure. He was brought back to shore to await an ambulance and emergency services. He was taken to Byron Bay District Hospital and later released with no further treatment needed.

During the ordeal, Rick maintained voice contact with emergency services while staying afloat and calm. He also took the chance to thank Alex and the rescue team. “Sorry Alex, I had a lot going on when I saw you the other day. I didn’t get a chance to properly thank you for your efforts,” he said. “I’m so grateful for you and everyone involved. It was an incredible effort. It was seamless and efficient, and I owe my life to you guys.”

Rick also mentioned his surprise that the emergency call from his watch went through since he didn’t have a plan for it. “The fact that I could make that call from my watch is amazing. I don’t even pay for a plan. I really don’t know how it worked, but it saved me,” he said.