911 Called After Family's Game of Twister Backfires

A game of Twister between grandfather and grandchild took an unexpected turn that led to the former calling 911.

However, despite contorting himself into such an awkward shape he ultimately took a tumble, it's worth stressing that grandpa walked away from the game unscathed. Instead, the 911 call came about in altogether more hilarious circumstances.

Grandparents can play an important role in the development of their grandchildren.

A study of more than 1,500 children conducted by researchers from the University of Oxford in the U.K. concluded that those kids who benefited from a great level of grandparental involvement experienced fewer behavioral problems and emotional issues.

Making time for grandkids, whether it is reading to them or simply playing around the home, is a commendable choice and one that Ken Whitaker, a 66-year-old tennis coach based in Virginia, fully embraces.

Unfortunately, as Ken discovered during a recent family gathering, this approach can have its drawbacks. It was a moment captured on camera by his son John Whitaker who later shared the results to TikTok under the handle coolwhitaker.

"The occasion was a family member's birthday," John told Newsweek. "We went to their place after dinner for some dessert. My nephew then cracked out the Twister board, and my dad, 66 years old, would never let a game go on without being a part of it!"

What Ken failed to factor in was that he was wearing an Apple Watch. As John explained, his dad should have taken it off before playing Twister.

"If you fall and your watch senses it, it'll dial 911 for you. It will also do that if you hold the side button down on accident," he said. "Not sure which one caused him to call 911, but we all of a sudden heard his watch talking to us as a 911 responder."

John can still remember how the hilarious moment played out, with his dad initially baffled as to why he could suddenly hear a voice. "He was so confused but us 'kids' quickly understood what was going on and told him to go grab his phone," he said.

The Whitakers' TikTok video captures the contrast of his dad happily playing Twister with John's nephew and then appearing apologetic on the phone to the authorities as he explains what happened.

The video has been watched 1.2 million times and has provided the family with some comfort that the accidental nature of the situation would have been appreciated by those at the other end of the line.

"There were some comments from respondents on the video that said they love when stuff like this happens," John said. "It gives them a nice laugh during a stressful day, which is good to hear!"

Though Ken will be more careful in the future, John said he has no plans to turn the setting off on his Apple watch any time soon. "It's better to call 911 when you don't need them than not be able to call them when you really need them," he said. "It's also helpful with car crashes, as many people are unable to reach for their watch or phone in the event of an accident."