SPoT Rescue Stories

Niels Vinther was taking part in the TGO Challenge walk in May 2008 across Scotland when he became ill in the middle of the night with severe stomach pains whilst camping in remote Glen Etive. The helicopter pilot said that the location coordinates were so accurate he nearly landed on top of the tent.

Niels said "For those of you that already have a SPOT don't leave home without it. The rest of you who are considering buying one, give yourself and your family peace of mind. However NEVER use it to get home for tea time, like at sea, the 999 (911) is for emergency rescue only."

Brian Bertsch got his SPOT as a Christmas present from his wife Natalie. Shortly afterward, he had to press the 911 button while coming to aid of four snowmobiling friends who had been swept away in an avalanche. Also because of the "OK" button he was able to alert his wife that he was OK, so she wasn't alarmed when the 911 service followed with a call to her.

Will Eisemann and Mike Kelley 2 stranded snowmobilers, were rescued from a remote location outside of Grand Junction, Colorado after pressing the 911 buttons on their SPOT Satellite Messengers.They were riding back from servicing a communication tower at 8,500’ in a remote area when they got drawn off course due to white-out snow conditions with nightfall setting in.

“Without SPOT, the search for us could have gone on all night, in blizzard conditions. With SPOT, Mesa County Search and Rescue tracked our GPS coordinates that were updated every 5 minutes and knew exactly where to find us even after we moved 30 yards to build a snow shelter,” added Kelley.  “Only because of SPOT were we able to be located and rescued that quickly.” 

Mike Brady, an outdoorsman working alone to maintain a remote seasonal lodge in Alaska's Wrangell St. Elias National Park, one of the largest and most isolated in the state, collapsed in minus 30 degree temperatures. "SPOT saved my life," said the 72-year-old Brady, who suffered a fractured vertebrae in his fall. "If my (98-year-old) mother hadn't given it to me before I left, I might not be here now." An emergency helicopter arrived in the isolated area and airlifted Brady to a hospital.