Helped a lost student pilot once myself. The guy was forced low south of Lake Okeechobee due to TRW's and started asking for help (pre-9/11). We were climbing out of MIA and I thought someone else would jump in. After his 3rd call, I acted like a SAT relay between him and TPA Approach.

I basically told him to circle over one of those straight central FL roads, do not get near any clouds and just land on the road if you can't (watching for wires and poles of course).

Eventually he was able to climb high enough for a radar tag before we left VHF range.

I also just heard an airline crew helping a plane with engine trouble heading for a road landing. We went out of range before hearing the final resolution, but not before hearing the multiple Guard idiots saying guuuuaaaarddd in the middle of an actual emergency.

MIA Center has several dead areas for comm. They routinely use Guard to reach aircraft. Others are low and need relays. They call on Guard.
Although the newer EPIRBs and PLB's are SAT based. Many signals pop off in isolated areas unlikely to have a Dr. in his Bonanza randomly checking his ELT.