Castaways stranded on island rescued after spelling out ‘HELP’ using leaves

By Dean Murray via SWNS

Castaways stranded on an island were rescued after spelling out ''HELP' in palm leaves.

The U.S. Coast Guard picked up three sailors stranded on Pikelot Atoll in Micronesia after they got into trouble in their small 20-foot open skiff.

The men, all in their 40s, reportedly embarked on a voyage from Polowat Atoll on Easter Sunday equipped with an outboard motor and experience in navigating the waters.

On April 6 the Joint Rescue Sub-Center (JRSC) Guam received a distress call from a relative of the three mariners reporting her three uncles departed for Pikelot Atoll, approximately 100 nautical miles northwest of Polowat Atol, and had not returned.

Thanks to the coordination of U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam and the U.S. Navy, the men were able to be located, with a "crucial factor" being their idea to spell out 'help' on the beach.

The breakthrough came when the U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft identified the three mariners on April 7 on Pikelot Atoll, confirming their presence and condition.

The aircraft crew successfully deployed survival packages to sustain the men until further assistance could arrive.

Lt. Chelsea Garcia, the search and rescue mission coordinator on the day they were located, 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. This act of ingenuity was pivotal in guiding rescue efforts directly to their location."

The U.S. Coast Guard added that they strongly recommend all mariners equip their vessels with an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) to enhance safety on the water.