Modern Mysteries

Australian SOS mystery has finally been solved

By T.K. Randall
June 9, 2017

Image: Police Lights
Credit: Highway Patrol Images / CC BY 2.0 (adapted) Spotted last month in Western Australia, the 'SOS' signal had prompted an extensive search of the region over fears that someone had become stranded out in the middle of nowhere.

The letters 'SOS' had been spelled out by arranging dozens of small rocks on the ground and appeared to have been left by someone who was in genuine need of assistance.

A search of the remote area, which was situated 300 miles from the city of Broome, yielded indications of a campfire but no clues to explain who might have been there.Now though, the police in Australia have revealed that the sign was most likely created by a man and woman who had become genuinely stranded in the region four years ago.

Mystery SOS sign sparks missing person fears in remote Australia https://t.co/e2xkMYQmNR pic.twitter.com/F2IbBSr9Nu

— ITV News (@itvnews) May 26, 2017

The man's brother had read an article about the mystery on the BBC news website and had decided to contact the authorities to explain what had happened.

The couple had allegedly been aboard a yacht that became stranded, forcing them to head to the shore on a raft. After narrowly escaping an attack by crocodiles, they created the SOS sign and managed to survive for some time on rations while drinking fresh water they found nearby.

They were eventually rescued when another boat spotted them and stopped to pick them up.

Source: BBC News

Tags: Australia, Outback