A coroner is calling for better police training on iPhone crash detection after a 19-year-old man, George Dillon, tragically died despite his phone automatically calling 999 for help.
Dillon’s iPhone detected a serious car crash and sent an alert after he crashed into a tree. The emergency call notified authorities that he was unresponsive. However, despite this automatic call, help didn’t arrive in time.
Emergency Call Gets Missed!
When the police called Dillon’s phone back, it went straight to voicemail. The control room team couldn’t confirm who made the call or what exactly had happened.
Without hearing any background noise or signs of distress, police logged it as “no direct request made,” and they didn’t send anyone to the crash scene right away.
Assistant Coroner Henry Charles, who investigated the case, said more training is needed for officers to properly handle automated calls like these.
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Crash Detection Tech!
Apple introduced the crash detection feature in 2022. It’s designed to automatically call emergency services when the phone senses a severe crash. The feature works by detecting sudden movements or impacts that suggest a serious accident.
However, the coroner pointed out that false alarms from electronic devices are common and sometimes lead to confusion, which can delay emergency responses.
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“Catastrophic” Injuries After Crash!
The inquest revealed that Dillon had lost control of his car and hit a large tree near Southampton. His injuries were described as “catastrophic and unsurvivable,” and he passed away at the hospital two days later.
Charles highlighted in a report that there’s a real risk of future deaths unless police better understand how to deal with these automated crash alerts. He urged authorities to take action and improve their response times to similar emergencies in the future.
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Police Missed Critical Information!
During the inquest, it was revealed that the police struggled to gather enough information after the automated call. Even though they tried to trace the iPhone, they couldn’t identify Dillon or figure out if someone’s life was in danger.
It wasn’t until a member of the public called police about the crash that authorities finally responded. By then, almost 20 minutes had passed since the initial alert.
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“Not Enough Is Known” About This Tech
The investigating officer admitted during the inquest that police weren’t fully aware of how the crash detection technology works, especially at the time of the incident.
Charles emphasized the need for better training and understanding of the technology. He urged police departments to review their procedures to ensure quicker responses when crash detection alerts are received.
Charles also stressed that action must be taken to prevent future deaths and that the police force had eight weeks to respond to his report.
In the end, this tragic case highlights the potential flaws in the system and the importance of improving both the technology and the training needed to save lives in similar situations.
Source: The Telegraph