A 32-year-old woman from Liverpool has credited Apple's iPhone crash detection feature with saving her life after she plunged 330 feet down a Welsh mountain pass. Natalia Sidorska lost control of her Honda Civic on the Horseshoe Pass in Denbighshire, north Wales, while driving at an unfamiliar sharp bend. The vehicle rolled down the steep drop and came to rest in a field, with Natalia managing to free herself from the wreckage.
Dazed and disoriented, Natalia called out for her phone to dial 999, unaware that her iPhone 16 Pro Max had been ejected through the shattered windscreen during the impact. The device's crash detection system had already activated, automatically connecting a call to emergency services and providing her exact location. Rescuers arrived within 20 minutes.
Life-changing injuries and a fortunate outcome
Natalia sustained severe injuries, including damage to her ankle and spine, which required four months of hospitalisation and three separate operations. Surgeons had to remove her talus bone due to an infection that prevented metal implants. She now relies on a wheelchair when leaving home. Despite the life-altering consequences, she considers herself lucky to be alive.
“The impact of the crash was so massive, and even the people who were there with me were asking each other, 'how is she still alive? She should be dead',” she said. “I am just very grateful for the technology because if that crash detection was not on, I might have bled out - and no one would have found me.”
Apple's crash detection feature proved critical
Beyond alerting emergency services, Natalia's fiancé received a separate notification on his phone about the crash, allowing him to find her quickly. “His phone gave him a notification of the crash, and we found out that my phone triggered the notifications for the rescue service,” she explained.
Natalia acknowledged she may have been travelling too fast on the 40mph road and was unfamiliar with the route. The crash occurred when she encountered a tight bend and could not react in time. Her car also caught fire, but she managed to escape with a broken leg.
“I survived this, even though my car was on fire. I managed to escape with a broken leg. I am left with a lifelong disability. My leg is now shorter, and I don't know what is going to happen with my leg,” she said.
How to ensure crash detection is active on your iPhone
Crash Detection is enabled by default on iPhone 14 and newer models running iOS 16 or later. To verify the setting, open the Settings app, scroll down to Emergency SOS, and ensure the toggle next to Call After Severe Crash is turned on. Users are also advised to add emergency contacts and medical details in the Health app to allow the phone to share critical information with first responders.
