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Woman falls off pier while texting and walking in Michigan

Bonnie Miller is putting humiliation aside to provide a warning to others

A woman in Michigan went for a long walk on a short dock. She just didn't know how short the dock was because she was looking down at her phone.

Bonnie Miller was walking along a pier, enjoying the weather with her husband and 15-year-old son earlier this week when she realized she had to send a text, reports ABC57 News. She didn't realize how close she was to the edge when she then stumbled over something on the pier and tumbled into the water.

"I had set an appointment for the wrong time and so I sent about three words," she said to ABC. "Next thing you know it was the water."

Her son Quinn said he just heard her say 'Oh God' and then...splash, Miller was in a channel that feeds into Lake Michigan. She was having trouble swimming so her chivalrous husband jumped in after her.

"It was very chaotic for a bit," said her husband Greg to ABC. "I just went for it and gave her a big push towards the side of the channel."

Then a bystander jumped in to help. The two of them plus Quinn helping from the pier managed to get Miller to a ladder.

Police, firefighters and the Coast Guard, responding to a 911 call of three people in the river, showed up quickly and helped Miller up the ladder.

Miller is far from the first person to be embarrassed or suffer a worse fate because of focusing on a phone. A study conducted by researchers at Stony Brook University found people veered 60 per cent away from their straight path while texting. It also showed participants took 33 per cent longer to reach a destination when texting and walking.

It's not hard to find real live examples. Last month a woman was caught in the background of a live CBC broadcast falling down steps in front of a downtown Toronto office. She was looking down at her phone right before it happened.

And in January 2011, a security guard at a shopping mall released video of a woman falling into a fountain while texting and walking. The woman sued the mall for the footage being released.

As for Miller, she is humiliated by the experience, but wanted to share her story to thank those who helped as well as provide a warning to others.

"I couldn't let pride stand in my way of warning other people to not drive and text or walk and text," she said to ABC. "It can be dangerous."

Neither Miller nor anyone who helped suffered any injuries.

(Getty Image)