Imagine hunting, far from civilization, when the unthinkable happens - a heart attack.

That frightening scenario was one Idaho Falls man's reality. But his quick thinking and the use of a cell phone helped save his life. Ty Brennan has his harrowing story.

We carry them around every day, and most of us take them for granted - our cell phones. But in a real emergency, they can be lifesavers.

Mathew Scheer, saved by phone: "I just got started hunting, saw a pretty good deer running, and that's when my heart decided to go collapse on me."

In pain, miles from his truck and even farther from a hospital, Mathew Scheer knew he needed to get out of there - and quickly.

Mathew Scheer: "I thought I could make it back to the pickup, and when I knew I couldn't, I knew I needed help and I needed help fast."

Mathew did the only thing he could - call for help on his cell phone.

"Forty-three-year-old male in the Tex Creek area having a heart attack."

...That's the call Air Idaho Dispatcher Bill Childes recieved, but the next bit of information surprised him...

Bill Childes, Air Idaho dispatcher: "At that time, I got a phone call from Idaho Falls Dispatch, who says, 'Yeah, we want you to go, and he's given you the coordinates he wants you to fly to."

Mathew, in severe pain, enabled a feature on his phone that allows emergency dispatchers to see exactly where the phone is calling from, using GPS coordinates.

Mathew Scheer: "It was a lot of pain, but you still gotta figure out how to get out."

Once Air Idaho lifted off, it took only minutes to reach Mathew. The pilots were even able to call Mathew and have him guide the chopper in. Mathew credits his phone and the GPS feature for saving his life.

Mathew Scheer: "That phone - very important to take with you."

Bill Childes, Air Idaho dispatcher: "He saved his own life because he knew how to use his technology."

Since his operation, Mathew has made a remarkable recovery and is now just waiting for the doctors to give him the all clear to get back up on the mountains.