Three mariners who were stranded on a tiny island in the Pacific were rescued after they spelled out "HELP" with palm leaves on the beach, the Coast Guard said Tuesday, marking the second time in four years that castaways were found on the same island. The sailors were found on Pikelot Atoll after being stuck in the Micronesian archipelago for over a week.
The men — all experienced sailors in their 40s — had embarked on a voyage from Polowat Atoll on Easter Sunday in their 20-foot open skiff, which was equipped with an outboard motor.
A joint search and rescue operation by the U.S. Coast Guard and Navy was immediately launched. Despite poor weather conditions and limited assets in the area, a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft crew based in Japan was deployed and the USCGC Oliver Henry cutter was diverted to the search area, which spanned more than 78,000 square nautical miles.
Stranded Sailors Rescued After Spelling 'HELP' on Beach
Amidst being stranded, a group of sailors demonstrated remarkable ingenuity by spelling out 'HELP' on a beach using palm leaves. This creative act played a crucial role in their eventual discovery and rescue.
After eight days of being missing, a Poseidon aircraft located the message and the three mariners on the tiny island. Survival packages were dropped to them before the Coast Guard cutter was deployed for the rescue operation.
The USCGC Oliver Henry reached the mariners on Pikelot Atoll on Tuesday morning and safely transported them back to Polowat Atoll.
"The enduring partnership and mutual respect that characterizes our relationship have made a profound impact on the lives of individuals and the resilience of communities across the Federated States of Micronesia," said Lt. Cmdr. Christine Igisomar, the search and rescue mission coordinator on the day they were rescued.
Interestingly, this wasn't the first instance of stranded sailors being rescued from the island after creating a distress signal on the beach. In 2020, three men were rescued from Pikelot Atoll after crafting a giant "SOS" sign in the sand. They were spotted by Australian and U.S. aircraft and safely returned home.
