3 castaways rescued after writing ‘Help’ with palm leaves
SANTA RITA, Guam (WJW) – Three men stranded on an island for more than a week were saved after making a “Help” sign out of palm leaves on the beach.
According to a press release from the United States Coast Guard, the three men, who are in their 40s, became stranded on Pikelot Atoll, in Yap State on March 31.
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An operation done by both the U.S. Coast Guard and Navy seared over 78,000 square miles of water before they spotted the “Help” sign from an airplane, the release said.
“In a remarkable testament to their will to be found, the mariners spelled out ‘HELP’ on the beach using palm leaves, a crucial factor in their discovery,” said Lt Chelsea Garcia, the search and rescue mission coordinator.
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On April 6, Joint Rescue Sub-Center Guam was made aware of the three missing mariners after a distress call from a relative came in, reporting that her three uncles had not returned from Pikelot Atoll, according to the release.
According to the release, the men were saved by a US Coast Guard ship on April 9.
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