Ohio man relies on an Apple Watch for rescue after suffering a stroke during training

Derrick Gant of Ohio had relied on his Apple Watch to seek help after suffering a stroke while exercising outside. The incident shows that even the most active people can experience medical emergency and benefit from connecting to emergency services through their Apple Watch.

Gant had jumped a rope into his driveway last summer. Gant reached the training goal, but after that he collapsed and could not feel his legs or arms. His doorbell camera actually caught the entire incident on video.

After the collapse, Gant’s Apple Watch Fall detection feature was activated and offered to call emergency services. Gant said he had brushed it off first and thought he would be fine in a few minutes before he could decide he needed help.

Within minutes, paramedics arrived at his house and began treating him. His Apple Watch also notified his emergency contact that the incident had occurred. The response was essentially automated within the first minute of the stroke.

Derrick Gantt has recovered fully within a year and despite being physically active at the age of 57, he knows why he suffered a stroke.

Gant recently stopped taking blood thinners. Simply adjusting his medications brought back his natural blood clotting tendency, and physical exercise increased his heart rate and blood pressure. This could have removed the blood clots that traveled to the brain and blocked the cerebral artery.

This resulted in an ischemic stroke, preventing oxygen delivery to the brain. Lack of oxygen kills brain cells within minutes, causing potentially permanent brain damage. Gantt’s strokes affected his motor cortex, particularly based on the loss of arm and leg control.

Gant’s experience is particularly relevant for active individuals who rely on medication to manage their heart health. It also shows how the Apple Watch will become a lifeline when it is least suspicious of it.