Helicopter Responds To Distress Message Written In The Sand

A group of Navy pilots and air crewmen who were training at Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF), Barking Sands, Kauai, Hawaii responded to a call for help and rescued two women on Kauai's Kalalau Beach in Na Pali Coast Park, April 7.

At approximately 1015 local time a tour helicopter reported seeing an "S.O.S." written in the sand at Kalalau Beach. Naval aviators and other Sailors from several commands were conducting advanced training operations at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) off the west coast of Kauai when they were notified of the "S.O.S." and were sent to investigate.

When naval aviators confirmed the "S.O.S." an SH-60B "Seahawk" helicopter was sent with two pilots and two air crewmen, including a search and rescue (SAR) swimmer who helped rescue the victims.

One of the victims was reported as being very ill and having a serious injury. After rescue from the beach, the victim and her companion were transported to PMRF for emergency treatment and transport to Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital.

Sailors from Helicopter Maritime Strike (HSM) Weapons School Pacific, of NAS North Island, CA, and Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light Fifty-One (HSL-51), from Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan, responded with the assistance of Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light Thirty-Seven (HSL-37), of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, at Kaneohe Bay, Oahu.

The pilots and air crewmen were undergoing advanced training at PMRF at the time of the call.

FMI: www.navy.mil/local/cnrh/