To say that our smartphones and gadgets are loaded with cutting edge tech would be an understatement. And sometimes the tech inside these toys can actually save someone's life, too.
That's exactly what happened with Gaston D'Aquino, on April 1 Easter Sunday in Hong Kong, as he sat in church and his Apple Watch started buzzing like crazy.
The 76-year-old D'Aquino spotted an alarm on his Apple Watch with a notification saying that his heart rate was too high. Startled and concerned, D'Aquino skipped Easter lunch with his family and went straight to the hospital.
According to the?South China Morning Post, he?informed the doctor that his Apple Watch had alerted him of his heart rate, but otherwise he was feeling fine. The hospital ran an ECG (electrocardiagram) and referred D'Aquino to a cardiologist.
Doctors then conducted further tests and discovered that two out of D'Aquino's three main coronary arteries were fully blocked, and the third one was barely pumping blood with 90% of blockage. Yes, this means, D'Aquino was at a very high risk of suffering a potentially deadly heart attack.?
Reuters
D'Aquino then underwent a balloon angioplasty and is now out of danger.?The doctors and the hospital praised the Apple Watch for its accuracy.
D'Aquino said that previously a cardiologist who had prescribed him daily medication for diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure, but there was no hint of any deeper issues at the time.
The 76-year-old even wrote a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook,?informing him how the Apple Watch managed to save his life. To which Tim Cook replied, "Gaston, I’m so glad you sought medical attention and you’re fine now. I appreciate you taking the time to share your story. It inspires us to keep pushing. Best, Tim."
Reuters
As a result of the life saving story, D'Aquino's son-in-law also purchased an Apple Watch for his wife. D’Aquino also asked the users to listen to the warning and not ignore it.
He adds, "Listen to the warning. I could have gone for lunch, but I chose to go to the hospital. It gives you a choice. If you don’t take care of yourself, no one else will do it."