A nighttime walk turned frightening for a woman in Massachusetts who lost her way and became trapped in a swamp — until first responders used GPS technology to guide rescuers straight to her.
On Wednesday, Nov. 12, emergency crews were dispatched to a swampy area near the woods off Route 128 South in Manchester after reports that a woman was unable to make her way out, according to a news release from the Manchester by the Sea Fire Department.
“She went out for a walk, and it got dark very quickly,” Manchester by the Sea Fire Department Chief James McNeilly told ABC affiliate WCVB, explaining that she became disoriented in the fading light.
Fortunately, she was able to call for help, and responders were able to track her location using GPS. As darkness fell, she also had a flashlight with her, which helped her navigate until rescuers arrived, WCVB reported.
The woman was eventually located thanks in part to What3Words, a mapping technology that divides the world into 10-foot squares, each assigned a unique three-word code, officials said in the release.
“When somebody calls 911, it goes through a rapid S.O.S. system and gives them three words,” McNeilly told WCVB. “Every 10-by-10 square feet has three specific words. It could be any random three words — for example, marshmallow, sun, red.”
In this case, her location was identified as “jockey-examples-state,” according to the outlet.
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McNeilly noted that tools like this can save search teams significant time when trying to find missing people.
The woman was discovered deep in the swamp, and police officers helped guide fire department crews to the safest spot to reach and remove her from the waist-deep water, officials said.
The Manchester by the Sea Fire Department did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.
On social media, the department shared that multiple agencies worked together during the response and emphasized how critical coordination and technology were in bringing the woman to safety.
“This coordinated effort highlights the importance of teamwork, communication, and modern technology in achieving successful outcomes during emergency incidents,” the fire department wrote.
