image source, us coast guard
Three men were rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard off the coast of a Micronesian island after they used palm fronds to shout “help.”
They spelled out “HELP” on a leaf, which led to the rescue nine days after they set sail.
They had been reported missing after failing to return from a trip to Paikelot Atoll, an uninhabited coral island about 665 miles from Guam.
This is the second time in four years that people have been rescued from the island.
The three experienced sailors, all unnamed men in their 40s, set sail from Porowat Atoll, part of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Coast Guard said in a statement.
They left for Paikelot Atoll, about 185 miles away, on Easter Sunday in a small traditional 6-foot boat with an outboard engine, the Coast Guard added.
After failing to return, the men’s relatives reported the three uncles missing to the Coast Guard Joint Rescue Subcenter in Guam, and a search and rescue operation was launched.
First responders initially searched an area of more than 78,000 square nautical miles in inclement weather. But thanks to a makeshift “HELP” sign, they spotted the men from above.
Lt. Chelsea Garcia, who led the search and rescue effort that day, said: “In a sign of their will to be found, the sailors used palm fronds to write ‘Help’ on the beach. This was a key element in the discovery. It was,” he said. It was located.
“This ingenuity was critical in directing rescue efforts directly to the scene,” she said.
Coast Guard personnel then airdropped survival packages and radios to the men while a U.S. Coast Guard ship headed to the island.
The U.S. Coast Guard said the crew later contacted them by radio and said they were in good health and had access to food and water.
They also said they were recovering a damaged and inoperable skiff and needed help returning to Porowat.
The sailors set sail on March 31st and were officially rescued off the island on April 9th.
The U.S. Coast Guard said the rescue is an example of the strong partnership between the United States and the Federated States of Micronesia and U.S. Navy personnel stationed in the region.
Micronesia, located in the western Pacific Ocean, is made up of approximately 600 small islands scattered across a vast ocean.
“Every life saved and every seafarer returned home is a testament to the enduring partnership and mutual respect that characterizes our relationship,” said Lieutenant Christine Igisomer, who also took part in the search and rescue operation. he said.
Although Paikelot Atoll is uninhabited, it is often visited temporarily by hunters and fishermen. In recent years, this area has also been used as a new rescue site.
In 2020, three Micronesian sailors were rescued by the Australian Defense Force after calling out “SOS” on the shore.
