Three teenagers stranded along a remote stretch of coastline have been rescued after their desperate plea for help written in the sand was spotted from the air.
The marooned trio's 4WD became bogged in the Hutt Lagoon area south of Kalbarri, about 100km southwest of Geraldton on the Western Australian coast on Saturday.
A pilot flying nearby notified Air Traffic Control about 3pm after spotting a 'HELP' distress message written in the sand with a stationary vehicle nearby.
With the help of an Australian Maritime Safety Authority jet, WA Police officers were deployed to the scene.
But an incoming tide and rough terrain meant officers were only able to reach the group on foot across scrub and the dry lake.
The trio had been stranded for about six hours alongside their white Holden Colorado with no 4WD recovery equipment or emergency beacon.
All three were uninjured, WA police said.
They were driven to the aptly named Lucky Bay, where they were reunited with family and friends.
The vehicle will be recovered at a later time.
