A Stranded Climber in Kent County Was Saved Thanks to This App

This quick thinking and incredibly simple rescue sounds like something out of a movie, except it really happened right here in Kent County.

A young adult found themselves stuck in a tree about 1,800 feet off a main road, in a wooded area with no idea how to direct rescuers to their exact location. (Let’s be honest, I wouldn’t know what to say either.)

But thanks to a unique smartphone app, firefighters were able to find the stranded climber quickly and get them safely down.

What app did rescuers use to save the Kent County man stuck in a tree?

The app is called what3words, and it’s not your average GPS tool. Instead of using long strings of coordinates or vague location descriptions, what3words has divided the entire globe into 10-foot-by-10-foot squares and assigned each square a unique combination of three simple words.

For example, a spot on the trail might be labeled something like meatball.inspections.detectable. Share that phrase, and first responders can pinpoint exactly where you are, down to the square. It also gives you options to navigate to that exact spot with another map app on your phone.

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So say you can't find your friend inside Van Andel Arena... get their square, and bam, you can find their spot!

In this rescue, the stranded person used the app to generate their three-word location and relayed it to emergency crews. Within minutes, rescuers from Plainfield Township Fire Department had eyes on the tree and got to work bringing the climber to safety.

Fortunately, no one was hurt but this could have easily gone much worse if it weren’t for the app. What a creative way to fix the problem, right?

What3words is free, easy to use, and potentially life-saving. Whether you’re hiking, biking, or just exploring off the beaten path, it’s worth having on your phone or bookmarking the URL to make sure you don’t forget it.

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As this local rescue proves, technology doesn’t have to be complicated to be incredibly effective. Sometimes, all it takes is three little words to make a big difference.