Crucial Tesla self-driving feature remarkably saved man who needed to go to hospital
- Tesla self-driving technology is thought to have saved the life of a man who needed urgent medical attention
- He activated the Tesla Full Self-Driving feature (FSC V12), which navigated and parked without human assistance
- Despite suffering a heart attack he’s now doing well – much to the relief of Elon Musk
Published on Apr 15, 2024 at 2:14 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on May 14, 2025 at 7:59 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
Tesla self-driving technology has saved the life of a man who needed urgent medical attention as he was sitting behind the wheel.
On 1 April at 2 AM, cinematographer MaxPaul Franklin was facing severe dehydration and dangerously high blood glucose levels due to a malfunctioning insulin pump.
It was a life-threatening situation for the man from Asheville, North Carolina, US – but activating the Tesla Full Self-Driving feature (FSC V12) is thought to have saved his life.
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His car autonomously traveled 13 miles to a VA Emergency Room, navigating and parking itself without any human assistance from Franklin, whose blood glucose level had reached a dangerous 670.
Taking to X, headed up by the same man responsible for the car brand that stepped in, he told his story entitled – ‘My Crazy True Story’.
“On April 1st, Tesla unlocked Full Self-Driving capability for all Tesla vehicles in America.
“In a moment of dire need, at 2:00 am the following morning, I found myself grappling with severe dehydration and a blood glucose level of 670 due to a malfunction in my insulin pump,” he explained.
“With no time to spare, I turned to my Model Y for assistance.
“Engaging the new Full Self-Driving feature with a simple double click on the steering column stalk, I was astounded by the results.
“Without any intervention, the car skillfully navigated the 13-mile journey from my home to the VA Emergency Room, offering to autonomously park it upon arrival and let me seek immediate medical attention.
“Despite enduring a mild heart attack, I left the hospital with no restrictions on my exercise regimen, a testament to the swift and efficient response facilitated by the vehicle and the # 1 VA in America.
“As an owner of luxury vehicles including Porsche, Mercedes, BMW, Acura, and Cadillac, I can unequivocally declare Tesla the pinnacle of automotive innovation today,” he continued.
“Its lifesaving capabilities in critical moments underscore its superiority.
“The leap from traditional vehicles to Tesla’s Full Self-Driving functionality is like upgrading from a basic phone to a smartphone.
“As a resident of a solar-powered home, the cost of energy for the last 7000 miles has been minimal, I’ve saved nearly $1000.
“I extend my gratitude to Elon Musk for his crazy erratic leadership in advancing technology that is more than just transportation. As someone who shares Elon’s place ‘on the spectrum’ I am particularly appreciative of his commitment to excellence and innovation.
“He has profoundly impacted our world and personally impacted my own.
“Thanks, Tesla, and thanks, Charles George VA Medical Center team!”
Elon Musk expressed relief in response to Franklin’s story, over the technology’s crucial role during the emergency.
“Glad Tesla FSD was there to help and that you’re feeling well!” he enthused.
While not all Teslas are completely self-driven yet, Musk has made it mandatory for all new Teslas to come with Full Self-Driving (FSD) installed per his plans for the EV manufacturer written eight years ago.
It’s even changing the way Teslas will be delivered.
Per the Tesla website, the EV’s Full Self-Driving capability allows the vehicle to ‘drive itself almost anywhere with minimal driver intervention.’
Thankfully for Franklin, the technology is constantly evolving and updating and the post reaching over 21.1 million people means it’s also raised awareness.
A Tesla was caught on camera navigating a chaotic construction section like an expert.
The current technology requires ‘active driver supervision’, which does not make the vehicle autonomous according to Tesla.
Despite autonomous vehicles making huge leaps – including recognizing their owner – many on Twitter urged anyone who found themself in the same situation to call an ambulance.
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All Supercar Blondie contributors undergo editorial review and fact-checking to ensure accuracy and authority in automotive journalism. After gaining her BA Hons in French and English at the University of Nottingham, Amelia embarked on a vocational diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). This led to numerous opportunities, from interning at Vogue to being on the small team that launched Women’s Health magazine in the UK, which was named the PPA Consumer magazine of the year for three years running. As Health, Beauty and Fitness editor, Amelia personally received a Johnson & Johnson Award and was shortlisted for both PPA and BSME titles. Since then, Amelia has created content for numerous titles and brands, including the Telegraph, 111 Skin, Waitrose, Red magazine, Stylist, and Elle, as well as being Head of Content at Vitality and Editor in Chief at INLondon magazine. “My superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a relatable story you’ll want to share with your friends after you’ve read it.” After joining the SB Media family as a senior journalist in September of 2023, Amelia’s role has evolved to see her heading up the SEO output of the editorial team. From researching the most ‘Google-able’ key terms to producing evergreen content - it’s been a time of hard work, growth, and success for the editorial team and the Supercar Blondie website. “I like to think of myself as a ‘method journalist’. In other words: I live and breathe whatever I am writing about. When writing about fitness, I trained as a personal trainer, and as a beauty editor, I completed an ‘expert’ in scent diploma with the Fragrance Foundation. “During my tenure at Supercar Blondie, however, I did something I never thought possible: I passed my driving test at the age of 36. One day I’d love to train as a mechanic to better understand what happens under the hood, too. “My sweet spot is providing readers with a ‘takeaway’ (read: something new they didn’t know before) after reading every one of my stories. While I don’t claim to be an expert in the automotive world, I know the experts and bodies in the field to rely on to provide our readers with an informative and thought-provoking story every time they visit the site.”
