A 32-year-old Hauula man was rescued from Kalalau Valley today after a helicopter saw his “SOS” written in the sand on the beach.

The man had been hiking when a rock fell from the waterfall and hit his head, a Kauai County news release said.

A tour helicopter notified authorities after seeing the man’s plea for help carved in the sand.

Firefighters found the man able to walk to a landing zone where a fire helicopter picked him up and took him to Princeville Airport about 5:30 p.m.

Paramedics took him to Wilcox Memorial Hospital.