Off-road adventures, especially in challenging terrains, often bring an adrenaline rush and a sense of freedom. For Jerry, a 64-year-old off-road enthusiast, his love for dirt biking led him to the scenic Moab, Utah, where he had been riding for years.
As a longtime off-road enthusiast, Jerry was familiar with SPOT satellite devices. He had his own SPOT messenger for four years without needing its emergency features, and he never anticipated that one day it would become a lifeline.
In September 2023, Jerry embarked on a dirt biking adventure in Moab with four friends. The group found themselves deep in Pritchet Canyon, facing challenging rock climbs. While doing a pivot turn, one of Jerry's friends suffered a severe leg injury, requiring immediate emergency assistance.
The remote location posed a significant challenge and there was no cell reception in the canyon. In a moment of crisis, Jerry remembered his SPOT satellite device and pressed the SOS button for the first time. Almost instantly, an emergency response team engaged Jerry, seeking additional details, and dispatched a rescue team to their location.
When Jerry signed up with SPOT, he had listed his wife and brother as emergency contacts. SPOT promptly called them, informing Jerry’s contacts that someone in the group was injured. Jerry explained that SPOT kept his loved-ones updated throughout the rescue with follow up reports.
Jerry, despite initial apprehensions about pressing the SOS button, emphasized that there was no alternative way for them to escape the canyon independently. The rescue operation, involving a helicopter and an EMS team, faced challenges due to the canyon's depth, requiring multiple passes for a safe landing.
The commitment and seriousness of the rescue squad, EMS team, and the helicopter crew left a lasting impression. Reflecting on the incident, Jerry continues to carry his SPOT device on his adventures, activating it before each off-road trip. Even with a lifetime of riding experience, Jerry acknowledges the unpredictability of outdoor adventures. He firmly believes that having a device like SPOT is the difference between life and death, and he highly recommends it to fellow off-road enthusiasts.