U.S. Soldier’s iPhone Helps Save His Life in Encounter With Suicide Bomber

Sure, you feel like your iPhone is a life-saver, but has it ever literally saved your life? Staff Sgt. Shaun Frank, stationed in Afghanistan, survived a blast from just feet away from him after a bomb was detonated by a suicide bomber. The iPhone he kept in his pants pocket stopped some of the shrapnel from entering his body.

9to5Mac:

“They did tell him when he got back to base that that iPhone probably saved his life,” said Frank’s sister, Alisha Lantz.

Utah television station KSL reports that at the very least, the phone saved Frank from a nasty injury.

The phone was damaged badly in the explosion, and no longer works. Apple has agreed to replace the phone, but says they will need to keep the damaged phone. Frank would like to retain the phone as a memento. His sister, Alisha is now making a public appeal to Apple to send him a new iPhone while allowing him to keep the destroyed unit.

“Because the old phone meant so much to him, we chose to get the old phone,” Lantz explained.

It’s been months now, and Frank is still in Afghanistan without a phone. His family in Utah is doing everything they can to get him a new one.

“He needs a new iPhone. Apple, please give him a new iPhone,” Lantz said. “I’m just so proud of him. He’s just… he’s my hero.”

Apple first told KSL that they were looking into the matter, but when later contacted, they declined to comment.

What’s your opinion? Should Apple go ahead and let Staff Sgt. Frank retain his old, life-saving iPhone? Or, are they in their rights to want to keep the damaged device? Would they be opening a whole new can of worms by allowing Frank to keep both iPhones? Please, share your opinion with us in the comments section below.

Chris Hauk

Chris is a Senior Editor at Mactrast. He lives somewhere in the deep Southern part of America, and yes, he has to pump in both sunshine and the Internet.