A pair of 19-year-old hikers were rescued near Eugene, Oregon, after making an “SOS” sign in the snow. The two teens went camping in the wilderness southeast of Eugene on Christmas day and were expected to return on December 29th. They were reported missing on New Year’s Eve.
Because of heavy snow in the area, the Lane County Sheriff’s called in the US Coast Guard for assistance. A Coast Guard helicopter was able to locate the hikers and evacuate them to the Eugene airport. Coast Guard officials praised the teens for their “SOS” message and for staying near their car and near the road, which made locating them easier.
“These young men did a lot of things right to give themselves the best chance of being rescued,” Coast Guard Lieutenant Maggie Champin says. “By writing ‘SOS’ in the snow, staying near their vehicle and staying near logging roads, we were able to find them relatively quickly.” Coast Guard officials say the two hikers did not suffer any injuries from the ordeal.
- While searching for the teens the Coast Guard helicopter crew spotted another pair of hikers in distress and reported their location to the local sheriff’s office.
Source:CBS News
[Courtesy of Dr. Dave’s Ultimate Prep]
[Photo Credit: Getty Images]