Three castaways stranded for per week on a desert island within the western Pacific Ocean have been rescued after a US navy plane looking for them noticed palm fronds that the trio used to spell out the phrase “HELP” on a sandy seaside.
The boys, all of their 40s, have been present in good well being on Tuesday on Pikelot Island, an uninhabited 32-acre islet coated by palm timber about 670km southeast of Guam, the US Coast Guard stated in an announcement on Thursday.
Their identities and citizenship weren’t launched.
The trio’s saga started on Easter Sunday once they launched into a voyage in an open skiff geared up with an outboard motor from Polowat atoll, 100 nautical miles east of the place the lads have been discovered, the Coast Guard stated.
Six days later, after the skilled mariners didn’t return, their niece alerted authorities and the Coast Guard and US navy started a search and rescue operation.
The preliminary search space spanned greater than 78,000 sq. nautical miles.
A day later, the US navy P-8 Poseidon plane noticed the makeshift “HELP” signal written out with palm leaves and started the rescue effort, the Coast Guard stated.
“This act of ingenuity was pivotal in guiding rescue efforts on to their location,” US Coast Guard Lieutenant Chelsea Garcia stated within the assertion.
Whereas stranded on the island, which is a part of the Federated States of Micronesia, the lads had entry to meals and water.
Additionally they recovered their broken skiff.
A Coast Guard {photograph} confirmed two small coated shelters close to the “HELP” signal.
The New York Occasions reported this was not the primary time castaways have been rescued from the island.
About 4 years in the past, three lacking sailors have been discovered after they wrote “SOS” within the sand.
An Australian ship, the HMAS Canberra, headed to the sailors’ assist and a helicopter landed on the seaside in 2020, bringing water and meals for the lads.
with DPA
