Image source: Twitter
© 2024 Blaze Media LLC. All rights reserved.
This Isn't the Set of Castaway': Three Rescued From Deserted Island After Writing 'Help' on Beach
April 09, 2016
"Fortunately for them, they were all wearing life jackets and were able to swim to the deserted island."
HONOLULU (TheBlaze/AP) — Three men who had been missing for three days were rescued from a deserted Pacific island after a U.S. Navy plane spotted the word "help" spelled out in palm leaves on the beach, officials said Saturday.
The men's families reported them missing Tuesday after they failed to show up at the Micronesian island of Weno, U.S. Coast Guard spokeswoman Melissa McKenzie said.
The men were traveling in a skiff from another Micronesian island when a wave overtook them, she said.
"This isn't the set of Castaway..." the U.S. Coast Guard Hawaii Pacific stated on its Facebook page.
This isn't the set of Castaway...Through efforts by the Coast Guard and the Navy's USPACFLT, U.S. 7th Fleet, Joint...
Posted by U.S. Coast Guard Hawaii Pacific on Saturday, April 9, 2016
"Fortunately for them, they were all wearing life jackets and were able to swim to the deserted island," McKenzie said.
The men were waving their orange life jackets when the Navy plane spotted them on the small island of Fanadik, several hundred miles north of Papua New Guinea. Two hours later, a small local boat picked them up and took them to a hospital.
McKenzie said she didn't have updated information on the men's condition Saturday.
Two bulk carriers searched a combined 17 hours for the men as part of AMVER, a U.S. Coast Guard voluntary search and rescue program. With AMVER, rescue coordinators can identify participating ships in the area of distress and ask them to help.
In the last two weeks, 15 people have been rescued in the Pacific with the help of 10 AMVER vessels and six aircrews, the U.S. Coast Guard said.
US Navy rescues men from deserted Pacific island after spotting 'help' on beach https://t.co/1X5Gw4woVb pic.twitter.com/SbJe2Peg4a
— ABC News (@abcnews) April 9, 2016
—
Follow Kathryn Blackhurst (@kablackhurst) on Twitter
Want to leave a tip?
We answer to you. Help keep our content free of advertisers and big tech censorship by leaving a tip today.
Want to join the conversation?
Already a subscriber?
more stories
Sign up for the Blaze newsletter
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content that may sometimes include advertisements. You may opt out at any time.
© 2024 Blaze Media LLC. All rights reserved.
Get the stories that matter most delivered directly to your inbox.
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content that may sometimes include advertisements. You may opt out at any time.