The story of three castaways who were rescued thanks to a message written in the sand on a deserted island in the Pacific Ocean is both shocking and inspiring!
Their adventure began on Catholic Easter Sunday when they set off in an outboard motor boat from Pollowat Island, about 100 nautical miles east of where they were found, according to the Coast Guard.
The three men had been stranded for a week on a deserted island in the western Pacific, isolated and facing the uncertainty of survival. But their return to safety was made possible by their ingenious move: writing the word “Help” in the sand with palm leaves.
The discovery of their message by a US Navy aircraft is the culmination of a story of anguish and anticipation. Search and rescue efforts were given a boost when the “Help” message appeared in the vast expanse of sand, guiding personnel to the location of the castaways.
The men, all in their 40s, were found in good condition on Tuesday on Pickelot Island, a small palm-covered desert island about 667 kilometres southeast of Guam.
The men had access to water and food while stranded on the desert island, which is part of the Federated States of Micronesia. Their survival for a full week is an impressive testament to human resilience and ingenuity. Although isolated on a desert island, they managed to keep their composure, repair their boat and make a clever gesture to show their need for help.
According to the New York Times, this is not the first time castaways have been rescued from the island. About 4 years ago, three missing sailors were found after writing an “SOS” in the sand.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
