AP Exclusive: Teens Tell Tales From 50 days Lost at Sea
- Posted on November 27, 2010 at 10:43am by
Scott Baker
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SUVA, Fiji (AP) — For more than 50 days, the three boys slurped rainwater that puddled in the bottom of their tiny boat, gobbled flying fish that leaped aboard and prayed for salvation.
Etueni Nasau and his two cousins almost gave up hope they would survive as they bobbed in their aluminum dinghy across the South Pacific for more than seven weeks, before a fishing trawler spotted them by chance and brought an end to their extraordinary ordeal.
“I thank God for keeping us alive all this while, while were drifting out in open sea,” Nasau, 14, told The Associated Press. “We prayed every day that someone will find us and rescue us. We thought we would die.”
In a shy, quiet voice, Nasau spoke Saturday from his hospital bed in Fiji, where the trio were brought a day earlier and quickly treatment for dehydration, bad sunburn and malnourishment.
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Nasau, also known and Edward, and his two 15-year-old cousins, Samuel Pelesa and Filo Filo, jumped into the 12-foot- (3.5-meter-) long boat, known locally as a “tinnie,” sometime in late September — Nasau couldn’t remember the date — to make what they thought was a short journey between islands in their archipelago home of Tokelau.
But they ran out of fuel for their outboard and began drifting out to sea. As land retreated from sight, they contemplated the handful of coconuts they had brought with them to snack on — and the little else in the boat.
Day after day, the teens sat helpless in the open craft under a beating tropical sun, scouring the horizon for signs of land or a passing boat.
On many nights, rainstorms churned the sea and lashed the boat. The boys threw themselves to the bottom of the boat, clutching the sides and trying to keep it from capsizing. Though terrifying, the storms also brought a lifeline: puddles of rainwater for them to sip.
They ran out of food all too quickly, and increasingly feared starvation. The sea provided meager pickings in the form of fish that leaped out of the water and sometimes landed in the boat.
“We ate flying fish, very small ones that jump into our boat, about five inches,” said Nasau, looking thin and weak.
Once, a bird perched on the boat and Pelesa snatched it.
“The bird came to our punt and my cousin Sam grabbed it,” Nasau said. “We ate it.”
Last Wednesday, the deep-sea tuna boat San Nikuna came into view on its way back to its home port in New Zealand. It spotted them and picked them up. They had drifted more than 800 miles (1,300 kilometers).
The boys have responded quickly to rehydration treatment. Twenty-four hours after arriving in Fiji, Pelesa and Filo had been released from hospital and were staying the consular staff from New Zealand, which administers Tokelau as a territory.
The three are expected to be flown to Samoa on Monday. They would then have to wait two weeks for a boat to take them back to their homeland, New Zealand’s TV3 reported on Saturday.
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MeteoricLimbo
Posted on November 29, 2010 at 12:26amThe blaze…… I see. Perhaps I am a stone after all. Thank you Sir
Report Post »inferno
Posted on November 28, 2010 at 6:07pmMiracle!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »MeteoricLimbo
Posted on November 28, 2010 at 6:43pmMercy my friend, If you only knew!
Report Post »MeteoricLimbo
Posted on November 28, 2010 at 11:54pmOK. What seems to be going on here? I did not ask for this. Well maybe subliminally I have before. Inferno, you seem to recognize this experience for what it is and was. I feel as though I need to do something. I find myself wanting to turn to an inferno for advise? The symbolism has not been shown me ,,yet.
Report Post »MeteoricLimbo
Posted on November 28, 2010 at 4:15pmI am surprised that more people do not choose to comment on this story. It would appear to be relevant to me. Evidently I don’t know all that much after all. Quite humbling indeed.
Report Post »MeteoricLimbo
Posted on November 27, 2010 at 11:00pmIt’s good to be in here, thank you fine people for some hope. I lost my son on 8/28/10. My mom sat with me in silence the next morning, and we couldn’t take it any longer and I turned the TV on. Mom is a fan of C-Span so it happened to be tuned to that station. . Glenn Beck and restoring America was on. I was well aware of it being 8/28 as I was a fan of Glenn but in the moment it was the last thing on my mind. Then a cherished friend gave me a copy of The Shack. Most would say I had a come to Jesus moment but I know full well he came to me. I am sure you have all heard stories of this nature, as I had too. I was NOT ready to go to any of the trilogy. Thank goodness they deliver. This story puts that moment to mind again and I hope to God I never do lose site of the 4th dimension that I have been shown if only for a peek. May sound corny but I am one person who can say I owe my life to Glenn Beck. Laugh and call names if you need or want to, and the funny part is I am ok with that now. This was far and away the best Thanksgiving I have ever had even after the loss of a child. It sure opened my eyes. More is revealed daily. I am a recovering alcoholic myself and I have wanted my ism to become a was-um so badly but today I am settin pretty on my ism and am thankful for all I have. Thanks Again to all and may the Christmas Season gather all your spirits in faith.
Report Post »Thanks again for letting me vent.
Ryan
morajic
Posted on November 28, 2010 at 1:48pmI read your story and it reminded me of one of my own. In 2008, after having going through a divorce and losing everything to addiction, I was in the wee steps of recovery. My life was financially in shambles, and I was working two minimum wage jobs just to pay rent. I hadn’t seen either of my boys in months, and my car needed a new transmission. I started watching the news religiously every night, and closely paid attention to the unfolding presidential race. It was the day after “super Tuesday”, and I was very depressed. I saw the writing on the wall, and realized that the current state of American politics had become changed forever. On top of all that, the president of my church, Gordon B. Hinckley, had just passed away two days before that. Having never met the man, I was surprised when I wept. I had just gotten off of a 12 hour day and was about to shut off the tv in disgust. I felt compelled to turn the channel to “34” which was CNN Headline News. I had only ever flipped past this channel before, but I turned it on anyway. There was Glenn Beck, giving a tearful tribute to Gordon B. Hinckley on national television. This was not a coincidence. I went to bed easy that night, knowing that despite the unknown storm that was coming, the players were already in place to help us weather its quells.
Report Post »MeteoricLimbo
Posted on November 28, 2010 at 2:18pmThank you Sir. It‘s good to know this isn’t a solo flight. If you then you know. thank you again.
Report Post »MeteoricLimbo
Posted on November 28, 2010 at 2:20pmpardon my writing. My check speller is not dislexic
Report Post »G.W. Dobbs
Posted on November 27, 2010 at 7:56pmThank you, Lord Jesus. We praise your Holy Name.
Report Post »ripama
Posted on November 27, 2010 at 6:40pmFlying fish don’t make much of a meal, the ones I’ve seen were on the small side…maybe 2 or 3 times larger than a hummingbird.
Report Post »Gas137
Posted on November 27, 2010 at 6:15pmThe Life of Pi without the tiger, or was it in the boat with them?
Report Post »W@nd@
Posted on November 27, 2010 at 5:39pmpilgrim2497
Report Post »Posted on November 27, 2010 at 12:35pm
Someone should chart their lives after this. Jonah was lost at sea for only 3 days, and God used him to change a city. No telling what 55 days worked into these kids, and how they will be used.
***************************
I think, of course, this is awesome! God uses numbers too. They are signifigant…The # 5 is the number of the Holy Spirit (i read that somewhere and it bears out) they were found after 55 days adrift at sea on Thanksgiving (which means nothing to them,except they are immensely thankful, no doubt!). I see it as a sign and a wonder! Jonah was 3 days lost and a city was saved from distruction! They were 3 boys lost 55 days and were saved! It only remains to be seen what God will due through them! They were saved in that boat! (there is no doubt in my mind they had someone praying for them back home that knew them and knew the Lord) God will supply! Praise the Lord! (the Holy Spirit engenders us to praise…praise works!) This is as much a sign to America if you look at it…The Washington Monument has in its peak the words Laus Deo…which means Praise Be to God! the Washington monument is 555′ ….and at the highest point inside is Laus Deo!…What this says to me on Thanksgiving….Just as 3 adrift in the tinnie…we have a tin horn at the helm of the ship called America, adrift with little direction and it is drifting toward anihlation(sp) but when we in our ‘ship’ turn to God…He will save us just as God saved those boys and provided for them every step of the way when they needed it the most. He will do no less for us! America LOOK UP our redemption in this perilous fight is at hand…Believe only and trust God always! He is an ontime God! America will be saved in every sense of the word! Laus Deo!
heavyduty
Posted on November 27, 2010 at 4:09pmI am just wondering why they were in a small boat with just coconuts? Bet they will keep land in sight from now on. Glad to hear that they are alright.
Report Post »homeschooln4years
Posted on November 27, 2010 at 2:07pmI can‘t help but thinking of the ’exercise’ we did in school years ago. If 10 people are in a lifeboat and there are only supplies for 9, which person should swim away, or which persons life is less valuable than the others. I have walked through this with my kids, reminding them that all life is valuable, and to leave it to God. These boys proved the point. They did all they could and God provided the rest.
Report Post »M31Sailor
Posted on November 27, 2010 at 2:44pmLook for the Socialist that refuses to fish or cut bait or bail water. Feed him /her/ it to the fishes as bait.
Report Post »homeschooln4years
Posted on November 27, 2010 at 9:07pmMy teen told me the new version of this ‘hypothetical story’. There are 3 people on a boat that are about to starve. They vote to see which one to eat. Will it be considered murder when they get rescued.
Report Post »HumanDoing
Posted on November 27, 2010 at 1:52pmFlying fish, and slow birds…God is good
Report Post »They say that mathematically …coincidence is impossible, that’s why its call coincidence.
A series of otherwise unexplainable events couple together like a Rube Goldberg device of such complexities it cannot be calculated.
proangler
Posted on November 27, 2010 at 12:46pmNo Atheists in that boat… funny how that happens.
Report Post »pilgrim2497
Posted on November 27, 2010 at 12:35pmSomeone should chart their lives after this. Jonah was lost at sea for only 3 days, and God used him to change a city. No telling what 55 days worked into these kids, and how they will be used.
Report Post »DeltaHawk
Posted on November 27, 2010 at 12:28pmModern day Jonah”s maybe? God bless these kids!
Report Post »Conserving Ink
Posted on November 27, 2010 at 12:06pmWhat are the chances of fish jumping into a little boat in the expansive ocean? Prayer works, scared-to-death prayer works really well.
Report Post »____________________________________________________________________
New Post http://conserving-ink.blogspot.com
SHANK
Posted on November 27, 2010 at 12:02pmHey guys, I‘m glad you’re safe!
my motto:
BE GOOD. BE SAFE. HAVE FUN!
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on November 27, 2010 at 11:26amnotice, they said THEY PRAYED to GOD everyday. no doubts who helped them thru it. wonder what they are destined to perform in their Lives.
Report Post »zagfan
Posted on November 27, 2010 at 11:50amGood question..I suspect great things! They were taught lessons out on the water for a reason! God has plans for those boys, no doubt!
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on November 27, 2010 at 2:04pmIf anything else, this occured to remind us the power of prayer, faith, and belief of the Almighty. I do not think it a ‘coincidence’ they were rescued on thanksgiving. The message is to the world by God, saying ‘Here is my mercy and grace revealed.”
May God watch over them and may they continue to walk with the Lord unto the future to come.
Report Post »Audax_23
Posted on November 27, 2010 at 11:24amIf thats not proof that God gives us strength idk what is.
Report Post »zagfan
Posted on November 27, 2010 at 11:19amLuck was with these boys! If they wouldn’t have been so young they would never had survived. God was with them!
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