NewsSailors rescued in Pacific spell 'HELP' with palm leaves

Sailors rescued in Pacific spell 'HELP' with palm leaves

Sailors rescued because they created a "help" sign out of leaves

Images source: © East News

12 April 2024 18:06

The Coast Guard rescued three sailors stranded for a week on a tiny island in the Pacific, thanks to a "help" sign they made from palm leaves.

According to US services, the men, experienced sailors in their forties, embarked on a journey from the Polowat atoll on Easter Sunday in their 20-foot (approximately 20 meters) open boat, powered by an outboard engine.

However, six days later, on April 6 at Greenwich Time, a relative alerted the Coast Guard in Guam that her three uncles had failed to return as expected to their home in Pikelot, situated about 115 miles northwest of the Polowat atoll.

The US Coast Guard and Navy immediately initiated a joint search and rescue operation. Despite the region's challenging weather and limited resources, a crew from the US Navy's P-8 Poseidon aircraft based in Japan joined the search efforts.

Their ingenuity saved them

"Lt. Chelsea Garcia, the search and rescue mission coordinator, highlighted the significance of their innovative use of palm leaves to spell "HELP." "This critical act of ingenuity was pivotal in directing our rescue operations precisely to their location," she said.

The aircraft team provided the men with rescue packages until further assistance could be arranged. The following day, a Coast Guard aircraft from Hawaii dropped a radio, enabling communication with the men, who confirmed they were healthy and had access to food and water but reported their boat was damaged, and its engine was broken. The USCGC Oliver Henry reached the sailors on Tuesday morning, bringing them safely home.