A Sick Girl Used Siri To Call In Her Own Rescue From Houston Floodwaters

Chris D'Angelo

A 14-year-old girl who suffered from a painful attack associated with sickle cell anemia was rescued from Hurricane Harvey’s floodwaters in Houston after using Apple’s Siri technology to phone the U.S. Coast Guard, according to CNN.

Tyler Frank and her family were forced to flee to the roof of their home after waking up Aug. 27 to find the house inundated with floodwater, the network news outlet reported Monday. After failed attempts to summon help through 911 and social media, the teen turned to Siri.

“I was like, ‘Siri’s smart enough! Let me ask her!’” Tyler told CNN.

“Siri, call the Coast Guard,” she told CNN she demanded of her phone. After getting through, Tyler provided her family’s location and explained that she was in pain and needed help. Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disorder of the red blood cells, and attacks — known as sickle cell crisis — can block blood vessels and cause extreme pain.

A Coast Guard helicopter showed up at the Frank house the following afternoon, but rescuers reportedly left after explaining to the family that rescue operations were focusing on the elderly and those in life-threatening situations.

“Coast Guard first responders were faced with an overwhelming request for assistance due to Hurricane Harvey,” the Coast Guard told CNN in a statement. “On-scene rescue crews made determinations based upon emergent factors (i.e. immediate, life-threatening situations) and the conditions faced on the scene.”

Later that day, Tyler — who by then was running a fever of 103 degrees — again called the Coast Guard using the personal assistant technology. Rescuers arrived the following morning and flew Tyler and her family to safety.

Tyler’s mother, Tameko Frank, filmed the rescue via Facebook Live.

Tyler was discharged from the hospital Friday, after several days of treatment.

“She’s got this great sense of humor. She just made us laugh,” Dr. Titilope Fasipe, Tyler’s hematologist at Texas Children’s Hospital, told CNN. “It’s so impressive what she and her family dealt with. I don’t think most of us can even imagine.”

Read CNN’s full story here.

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People begin cleaning up the damage to their homes after torrential rains caused widespread flooding during Hurricane Harvey.
People begin cleaning up the damage to their homes after torrential rains caused widespread flooding during Hurricane Harvey.
A Dickinson resident hugs a friend who came to help her remove possessions damaged due to flooding.
A Dickinson resident hugs a friend who came to help her remove possessions damaged due to flooding.
Floodwaters have receded from this home, but the damage is done.
Floodwaters have receded from this home, but the damage is done.
Family members remove debris and damaged items from their father's home.
Family members remove debris and damaged items from their father's home.
Volunteers from Performance Contractors help co-worker Cornell Beasley clear up the damage to his home.
Volunteers from Performance Contractors help co-worker Cornell Beasley clear up the damage to his home.
People in face masks begin cleaning out their property.
People in face masks begin cleaning out their property.
Books, furniture and other belongings are set to dry outside.
Books, furniture and other belongings are set to dry outside.
Lorenzo Salina helps a neighbor remove damaged walls.
Lorenzo Salina helps a neighbor remove damaged walls.
Volunteers and students from C.E. King High School help to clean up the school.
Volunteers and students from C.E. King High School help to clean up the school.
Debris and possessions are piled at the curb.
Debris and possessions are piled at the curb.
Bryan Parson (left), Chris Gaspard (center) and Derek Pelt (right) remove ruined items from Parson's home.
Bryan Parson (left), Chris Gaspard (center) and Derek Pelt (right) remove ruined items from Parson's home.
Volunteers place water damaged school furniture and text books on the front lawn of C.E. King High School.
Volunteers place water damaged school furniture and text books on the front lawn of C.E. King High School.
Lillie Roberts talks with family members on the phone as contractor Jerry Garza begins the process of repairing her home.
Lillie Roberts talks with family members on the phone as contractor Jerry Garza begins the process of repairing her home.
Cornell Beasley joins other residents as they dry and toss out their possessions.
Cornell Beasley joins other residents as they dry and toss out their possessions.
Furniture that was destroyed in the flood is piled on the side of the street.
Furniture that was destroyed in the flood is piled on the side of the street.
A man power-washes the driveway of his once flooded home.
A man power-washes the driveway of his once flooded home.
Stacey House holds up her daughter's volleyball portrait, which was damaged during the hurricane.
Stacey House holds up her daughter's volleyball portrait, which was damaged during the hurricane.
Willy Coronado helps a neighbor to clean a house.
Willy Coronado helps a neighbor to clean a house.
Missy Givens inspects the water level in her home.
Missy Givens inspects the water level in her home.
People try to repair a truck that was submerged in floodwater.
People try to repair a truck that was submerged in floodwater.
Derek Pelt removes a wall at his friend Bryan Parson's house.
Derek Pelt removes a wall at his friend Bryan Parson's house.
People on cleanup duty look around a damaged property.
People on cleanup duty look around a damaged property.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.