A mother tragically died twice following a horrific roadside crash after her iPhone's much-vaunted Crash Detection feature failed to summon help when it was needed most, a devastating investigation has revealed.
The Fateful Journey
Shirley Staniszewska, a 43-year-old mother from Surrey, was driving home from work when her vehicle left the road and collided with trees in a catastrophic accident that would ultimately claim her life not once, but twice.
Technology's Tragic Failure
Despite Apple's sophisticated Crash Detection system being activated during the initial impact, the emergency SOS feature failed to connect with emergency services. The advanced technology, designed to automatically call for help when it detects severe car accidents, left Shirley stranded and critically injured at the roadside.
A Second Chance Lost
Miraculously, Shirley regained consciousness after the initial crash and managed to make a desperate 999 call herself. Emergency services raced to the scene and transported her to hospital, where she was stabilised and appeared to be recovering.
Devastating Turn of Events
Tragically, just days after being discharged from hospital, Shirley collapsed at home from a pulmonary embolism directly linked to her injuries. She was rushed back to hospital but could not be saved, marking the second time she succumbed to complications from the crash.
Family's Heartbreaking Questions
Her grieving family are now left questioning whether the outcome might have been different had the iPhone's emergency feature worked as intended. "If that phone had worked properly, would she have been found sooner? Would better medical attention in those first hours have prevented the embolism?" her devastated husband asked.
Broader Implications for Smartphone Safety
This tragic case raises serious concerns about the reliability of smartphone safety features that millions of users depend on. As technology becomes increasingly integrated into our safety systems, failures can have fatal consequences.
Industry Response
Apple has faced previous scrutiny over its Crash Detection system, with some users reporting false alarms while others, like Shirley, experience failures when genuine emergencies occur. The technology giant continues to refine its algorithms, but for some families, improvements come too late.
The coroner has now written to Apple requesting information about the Crash Detection failure, hoping to prevent similar tragedies in future.
