Stranded hikers get rescuers' attention with unique distress signal

KAPAA, Hawaii -- The Coast Guard says "SOS" scrawled on the sand led rescuers to two hikers who were stranded overnight on Kauai's Na Pali Coast.

A Coast Guard helicopter crew was conducting training in the area Tuesday when crew members overheard a radio conversation mentioning "SOS" written in the sand at Kalalau beach.

The Coast Guard says the crew members diverted from the training mission and saw two people on the beach waving their arms.

A rescue swimmer was lowered to the beach and found that one of the hikers had an injured ankle and couldn't walk.

The crew hoisted the hikers to safety and took them to Lihue Airport, where paramedics were waiting.

Both are in stable condition.

It was not immediately clear how the hikers got stranded.

Last month, the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard rescued three sailors who were stranded on a remote Pacific island after spotting their "Help" message written with palm leaves in the sand.