Three fishermen off the coast of Ecuador are likely feeling very grateful for their GPS device after their small boat was overtaken and attacked by robbers.
After stealing the fishermen’s personal belongings and the boat’s motor, the robbers locked them in a storage compartment. The trio were able to break free and access the panic button on boat’s GPS device. The panic button connects directly to Ecuador’s National Emergency Response System, and within 3 hours the fishermen were rescued by a Coast Guard team.
The small fishing boat is part of a pilot program for the VehSmart GPS system. The system allows anyone on board to activate a distress call and can pinpoint the boat’s location. Currently, VehSmart is hoping to test the system on as many as 4,000 small fishing boats.