Sailors stranded on a small Pacific island are rescued thanks to a "HELP" sign made from palm branches
The men (in their 40s) were found by the Coast Guard when they spotted the signal from the sky. They were on Pikelot Atoll, an uninhabited island about 415 miles southeast of Guam.
After spending more than a week stranded on a small island in the Pacific Ocean, three sailors were rescued by the Coast Guard thanks to a "HELP" sign they made themselves from palm leaves and branches.
The three men (in their 40s) were found by officials (thanks to the fact that they spotted the leaves from the sky). They were on Pikelot Atoll - an uninhabited coral island about 415 miles southeast of Guam - belonging to the Federated States of Micronesia. They reportedly survived by eating coconuts. Lt. Chelsea Garcia - coordinator of the rescue mission - stated:
A "hindered" rescue
The niece of one of the sailors made an emergency call to the Coast Guard Joint Rescue Subcenter in Guam claiming that the men were missing and had not returned from a trip they had taken on Easter Sunday to Pikelot Atoll.
The initial search spanned more than 78,000 square nautical miles. The operation was "hindered" by bad weather and a shortage of aircraft at the base, the Coast Guard said. Despite the impediments, a plane dropped survival packs and a radio on the island while the USCGC ship Oliver Henry, which was already in the area, was diverted to join the rescue mission.
The sailors used the radio to communicate and assured that they were in "good health, had access to food and water, and recovered their boat, which unfortunately sustained damage, rendering it unusable." Lieutenant Ray Cerrato, commander of the Oliver Henry stated:
This is not the first time authorities have rescued stranded sailors on this island. In 2020, the Australian Defense Force found three men on Pikelot.