Couple Rescued from Oahu Beach After Writing ‘SOS’ in Sand During Flooding
WAIANAE, Oahu – A couple on spring break from Colorado were rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard after writing a large “SOS” message in the sand at Yokohama Bay during recent flooding on Oahu. Emma Stasko and Logan Bonn were stranded for approximately 24 hours before being spotted and airlifted to safety.
Stranded Due to Lost Keys and Rising Waters
Stasko and Bonn arrived at Yokohama Bay on Friday, March 20, expecting a relaxing day. However, their plans were disrupted when they lost the keys to their rental car. Attempts to arrange a tow truck were hampered by the worsening storm conditions. “The tow truck wasn’t able to make it out and so that was about the point that we knew we were going to be stuck,” Bonn told Hawaii News Now.
Limited Options and a Call for Aid
As the storm intensified, flooding washed out portions of Farrington Highway, cutting off road access and preventing assistance from reaching them. Stasko, who is recovering from a torn ACL and knee injury, was unable to walk out for help. The couple contacted 911, but were informed that immediate assistance wasn’t possible as they weren’t experiencing a medical emergency. They also began to run low on water.
Desperate Measure Leads to Rescue
After being stranded for about 24 hours, Stasko and Bonn wrote a large “SOS” message in the sand. A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew spotted the signal while returning from a storm assessment mission. “One of the guys in the back said, ‘mark, mark, mark the position — there’s an SOS written.’ And he said, ‘I think I spot some people waving,’” said Coast Guard Lt. Alex Mead, according to Hawaii News Now.
Grateful for the Quick Response
“It was kind of crazy. It felt like a miracle. We saw them circle around, and it was like a breath of fresh air,” Stasko said. Bonn added that the Coast Guard provided them with food, water, and medical attention.
Aware of Wider Impact of Flooding
Despite their ordeal, the couple expressed awareness of the broader impact of the flooding on Oahu. “We saw kind of videos of what they were going through and all the towns being destroyed, so like we knew we were doing pretty okay for the severity the situation,” Stasko stated.
Coast Guard Rescues Multiple People During Flooding
The rescue of Stasko and Bonn was part of a larger effort by the U.S. Coast Guard and Navy to assist those affected by the flooding. On Friday, March 21, crews rescued a total of seven people and one dog from various locations, including a rooftop in Waialua and near Yokohama Bay. Hawaii News Now reported that crews responded with cutters and airplanes to assess the damage and provide support.