Curtis Whitson and his family were visiting Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park for Father’s Day. They got stuck on top of a waterfall and couldn’t get down. They did not have cell phone service. There was no one to ask for help. Even the nearest camp was several miles away.
Fortunately, Curtis was able to think on his feet. Grab the empty water bottle and engrave the word “help” on the outside. Then he wrote a note describing the situation and put it in the bottle. He threw the water bottle into the sea, hoping that someone would find it.
Two hikers found her, fortunately. They ask for help.
According to NEWS8 WROC, rescuers pulled out the California Highway Patrol Air Operations Team. After a bit of searching, they found the missing hikers next to the SOS sign made from salvaged rocks. They airlifted the family the next morning after Curtis threw the water bottle overboard.
Rescuers knew the dangers. There were few, if any, places they would have gotten out of without the airlift. They had no choice. The message in the water bottle definitely got them out of harm’s way quicker than expected.
Now, if you’re curious about how they got trapped in there, it’s actually because of Curtis. He got to that point a few years ago. Go down a rope on the side of the waterfall. No one thought to bring a rope this time.
