We’ve talked about the Breitling Emergency watch here before – how – when activated it emits an emergency frequency. Now- though – we bring you a concrete example of its value – in terms of human life.
On August 15th, in Alaska, Mark Spencer was hunting grizzly bears about 120 miles northeast of Anchorage when he became stuck in the wilderness along Susitna River in the heart of the infamous Alaska Range. Unable to navigate the hazardous Class 6 rapids of the Susitna River, his float-hunting party had diverted the course of their boat to the Tyone River. But the river route proved too shallow for their vessel. Spencer left his group and went searching for help on the glaciated Susitna River and struck a shoal — tearing a hole in the vessel and sinking it in the icy waters. He had spent more than 48 treacherous hours struggling for his life among the unrelenting elements of the Alaskan Backcountry.
Despite having a hand-held Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), it was Spencer’s Breitling Emergency watch and its built-in homing signal that saved the day. “Breitling is the number one piece of equipment I always bring with me,” said Spencer, who works in the renewable energy industry. “Even if I lose everything, I will always have my watch. That gives me and my family peace of mind.”
The timepiece is designed with a micro-transmitter broadcasting on the 121.5 MHz aircraft emergency frequency. The transmitter is activated by unscrewing a protective cap and extending a short antenna. The signal can be heard for about 100 miles and will broadcast for 48 hours.
Spencer activated his watch’s Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) after the dangerous 55-mile trek up the frigid Susitna River left him hypothermic and near death in the isolated Backcountry.
The Breitling watch was able to provide the precise geographical location of the stranded man. A rescue crew was able to pinpoint the spot and a Blackhawk helicopter lifted him to safety after receiving the distress signal. (By contrast, his hand-held PLB device was incorrectly pointing the search team to a location 4 miles away.)
So if you plan to be out boating, hiking, camping, flying or otherwise engaged in the wild, take a closer look at this true instrument for professionals. It may well be worth the $5000- $7000 you spend on it.