Apple Watch Saves Life

The life of a 17-year-old boy was saved after his Apple Watch detected abnormalities in his heart rate.

19:07 24 September 2015

Paul Houle, Jr has dodged the bullet on the sports field after his Apple Watch has alerted him of a possible life-threatening medical condition.

 

The 17-year-old boy just finished football practice at Tabor Academy when he started feeling back and chest pain. He then strapped his Apple Watch and its heart rate detector was tocking at twice the rate it should be.

 

"That gave me the push to go and seek help," he said.

 

He then sought medical help at the school health centre where he was diagnosed with a condition called rhabdomyolysis.

 

"That means that your muscle breaks down and floods your system with protein," said Paul Houle, the young sportsman's father.

 

 

"If it wasn't for the Apple Watch to alert him to the fact that there was a problem, he probably would have just gone back to bed.

 

"He would have showed up for practice the next day and would have been one of the kids you read about every fall, who drops dead on the football field.

 

"The damage to his muscles would have led to kidney problems, which would have led to electrolyte disturbance in his system and caused his heart to fail."

 

Following the incident, Paul Jr received a call from Apple CEO Tim Cook who offered him an internship.

 

"He wanted to make sure I was OK," Paul Junior said.

 

"He said that I'll always have a place with Apple."