MADISON (WKOW) — Amazon’s Echo device is being credited with helping paramedics find a missing teen in Madison.
The Madison Fire Department said the search for a 16-year-old boy on the city’s west side ended Wednesday morning thanks, in part, to a simple command, “Alexa, call Mom.”
Paramedics were called to a home in the Dudgeon-Monroe neighborhood for an “unknown problem.” When they knocked on the door, they were greeted by a young man with Down syndrome, who was a stranger to the homeowners. The teen appeared confused, according to Madison fire.
“I’m lost and having a heart attack,” he said.
Paramedics evaluated him and determined he was not having a heart attack but was confused about his whereabouts, they said.
Authorities searched the home for any clues in hopes of finding names or other homeowners who might be able to give them more information. Some names were found, but the teen said he did not know them.
With help from Dane County dispatch, medics were connected with the original 911 caller, who was in Waukesha. The 911 caller said he’s the father of the person who owns this home, and he received a call from there, believing it was his son, according to Madison fire.
When paramedics described the teen, the 911 caller said he did not know the person. As they continued to ask questions, they learned that the teen had been riding his bike earlier in the morning. He stopped at the home after he got lost. Madison fire said he stopped there because the home was familiar. He apparently visited there over a year ago when family friends lived there. But now, the home is occupied by new owners, according to officials.
When the teen got into the home and was alone and confused, he turned to an Amazon Echo and asked “Alexa” to call Mom. That call connected him with the new homeowner’s father in Waukesha.
As pieces of the story started coming together, the teen was able to share his actual address to paramedics. They discovered the address was a little over a mile away. They also learned there was an active search for the teen, who was reported missing to Madison police.
The boy was eventually reunited with mother.
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