An 88-year-old Arizona man and his dog spent an entire night stranded in a remote part of Yavapai County after their vehicle became stuck in thick mud following recent monsoon storms. The man had been travelling on a back route between Carefree and Bloody Basin when conditions became too difficult for his vehicle to continue. The area had little access to regular communication, but the driver was able to use an emergency SOS text feature on his phone. That message gave authorities the information they needed to locate him, even though there was no traditional cell service where he was stranded. Rescue teams eventually reached the man and his dog early Friday morning. Both were found safe and unharmed. According to FOX 10 Phoenix , the emergency SOS feature helped officials pinpoint the man's location.

Vehicle became stuck in mudThe incident happened Thursday after the 88-year-old man decided to take back roads while travelling between Carefree and Bloody Basin in Yavapai County.

Recent monsoon storms had left the remote backcountry roads in extremely poor condition. The rain had turned parts of the route into thick, muddy terrain, making it difficult for vehicles to pass.

At some point, the man's vehicle became stuck in the mud, leaving him and his dog stranded miles away from the main dirt road. Because the area was so remote, getting help was not as simple as making an ordinary phone call.

According to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office, there was no regular cell service available at the location. The man, however, was able to use his phone's emergency SOS text function.

SOS message revealed his locationThe emergency feature proved crucial because it allowed officials to receive his location despite the lack of normal cellular service. The SOS message provided authorities with his precise coordinates, giving rescuers a clear idea of where they needed to go. Without that location information, finding a stranded person in the vast and difficult backcountry could have taken considerably longer.

FOX 10 Phoenix reported that Yavapai County Sheriff's Office Forest Patrol deputies received the urgent report and began coordinating the response. The rescue was complicated by the same muddy and waterlogged conditions that had trapped the man's vehicle in the first place. Crews had to navigate difficult terrain to reach him.

Rescue teams reached the pairYavapai County Forest Patrol deputies were joined by members of the county's search-and-rescue team, 4x4 units and the Jeep Posse. Using the location information supplied through the emergency SOS message, the teams were able to make their way toward the stranded vehicle. The difficult terrain meant rescuers had to use vehicles capable of handling the muddy backcountry.

They eventually reached the 88-year-old man and his dog early Friday morning. Both were found safe and unharmed. The man declined medical attention after being rescued, according to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office.

The successful rescue came after the pair had spent the entire night in the remote area.

He stayed with his vehicleOne of the most important decisions the man made after becoming stranded was to remain with his vehicle rather than attempt to walk through the unfamiliar backcountry.

The sheriff's office also said he had been prepared with food, water and his necessary medications. Those supplies helped him get through the night while he waited for rescuers to arrive.

In a statement following the rescue, the sheriff's office said that although travelling on remote, unpaved roads during recent monsoon storms was not advisable, the man did two important things correctly once the emergency occurred: he stayed with his vehicle and knew how to use the emergency SOS feature.

A small phone feature made a big differenceThe incident highlights how emergency satellite-based messaging can become especially important in remote areas where conventional cell service is unavailable.

In this case, one SOS message gave rescuers the location information they needed to find an elderly man and his dog in difficult terrain after a night of severe weather. The rescue also serves as a reminder of the risks associated with travelling on unpaved backcountry roads during Arizona's monsoon season. Roads that may appear passable in dry weather can quickly become muddy, flooded or nearly impossible to cross after heavy storms.

For the 88-year-old driver and his dog, however, knowing how to use the emergency feature, staying with the vehicle and having basic supplies on hand helped turn a potentially dangerous situation into a safe rescue.