An alert cattleman and an “S.O.S.” message crafted of rocks and flowers likely saved the lives of an elderly Texas couple stranded for six days in southern Utah’s Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
Kane County Chief Deputy Sheriff Alan Alldredge said Friday that Gerald Byler, 76, and his 78-year-old wife Helena ran into trouble on a remote, rocky stretch of Croton Road when their rental car broke down on what was planned to be a day trip to Lake Powell.
It wasn’t until Oct. 2 that a Panguitch rancher, Dell LeFevre, found Mrs. Byler lying on the road, severely dehydrated and confused.