A kitesurfer was rescued after using rocks to form the word “HELP” (“Help” in Portuguese) after becoming stranded on a beach in northern California over the weekend, US authorities said on Tuesday.
According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), the incident occurred Sunday on a small beach at the base of high cliffs.
The HELP sign was spotted by a private helicopter and authorities were alerted, Cal Fire said in social media posts.
Authorities described the beach as remote and difficult to access.
A rescue helicopter lifted the kitesurfer to the top of the cliff with help from the Santa Cruz County Fire Department and the State Parks Department.
The man, whose name has not been released, did not require medical attention, Cal Fire said.
The stretch of coastline is about 105 kilometers south of San Francisco.
“It’s an extremely beautiful place to work and live,” Skylar Merritt, a Cal Fire fire captain, told NBC Bay Area.
“However, this may lull people into a false sense of security around these rocks. These beaches are known for strong winds, rough tides and cold water,” he warned.