32.2 C
Accra
Monday, February 17, 2025
WorldMessage in bottle saves family stranded on waterfall

Date:

Message in bottle saves family stranded on waterfall

A family of three who got stuck on a raging waterfall were rescued after floating an SOS message in a bottle down a river.

Curtis Whitson, his girlfriend, and his 13-year-old son were on a backpacking trip in central California in June.

Their plan was to follow the Arroyo Seco river through a canyon until they reached the waterfall.

At the waterfall, they would shimmy down a rope and carry on their journey to a campsite.

But on day three of the hike the family found themselves stranded in a narrow part of canyon where the walls were 40ft (15m) high on either side.

Read:10-month-old baby girl rescued after being buried alive by her mother

The rope Mr Whitson expected to be there wasn’t, meaning they couldn’t climb down or out. To make matters worse, the waterfall was flowing too fast for them to enter.

“My heart sank when I realised the volume of water was just too dangerous to make rappelling down possible,” Mr Whitson told CNN.

With no phone signal or “a single soul” in sight, Mr Whitson concocted a plan. He wrote a note on a bar order slip that his girlfriend, Krystal Ramirez, 34, had brought to keep game scores: “We are stuck here at the waterfall. Get help please,” the note read.

Mr Whitson put the note in a green water bottle and carved “help” into the side. Then he threw the bottle into the water. “With one lucky toss, it went right over the waterfall,” he told CNN.

Read:How a young Banker, Philanthropist rescued a physically-challenged pregnant woman

The note was found around a quarter-mile (0.4km) down-river by two hikers, who raised the alarm, Mr Whitson said.

Rescue crew found Mr Whitson, his son Curtis and Ms Ramirez at around midnight on 15 June, just hours after hikers found the floating message.

“They were really out of options if they hadn’t gotten the message out that way, it might’ve been a while,” Todd Brethour, of the California Highway Patrol, said.

Mr Whitson, a glass and door repairman from Morro Bay, California, said he wants to find the hikers who found his message.

“It blows me away how it all came perfectly together,” he told the Washington Post. “What are the odds?”

Source: bbc.com

[forminator_poll id="710479"]

Latest stories

Those who mocked my little beginnings now respect me – Dr. Kwaku Oteng

Founder and President of Angel Broadcasting Network, Dr. Kwaku...

I am neither married nor dating someone’s husband – Benedicta Gafah

Ghanaian actress and media personality Benedicta Gafah has set...

Ofori-Atta will not escape accountability – Mustapha Gbande

The Deputy Director of Operations at the Presidency, Mustapha...

Kotoko’s Nana Pooley’s murderer – Club lawyer confirms

Asante Kotoko's lawyer, Sarfo Duku, has announced that the...

Neymar’s father says the star wants to sign an extended contract with Santos

Neymar's father and agent, Neymar da Silva Santos Sr.,...

Related stories

Netanyahu applauds Trump’s daring plan for Gaza during meeting with Rubio

Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, announced that he is...

Trump files Supreme Court appeal on removal of US agency leader

Former President Donald Trump has asked the US Supreme...

“I still consider it my biggest failure” – Bill Gates on life after divorce

Bill Gates is speaking candidly about his divorce from Melinda French...

Kanye West reclaims title as wealthiest rapper, surpassing JAY-Z

Kanye West has reportedly reclaimed the title of the...

Meta offers TikTokers $5,000 to join Facebook, Instagram

Social media giant Meta has offered to pay up...

About 1,600 Capitol riot defendants pardoned by Trump

President Donald Trump has issued pardons or commuted sentences...

LIVESTREAMING: Swearing-in ceremony for Donald Trump

Today marks the beginning of Donald Trump's second term...