Coast Guard, Navy rescue stranded sailors who spelled out ‘help’ on remote island

In a fortunate turn of events, the U.S. Coast Guard and Navy rescued stranded sailors from a remote Pacific island, missing for over a week and utilizing the island’s resources to signal for help. The sailors, all men in their 40s and said to be related, crafted a “HELP” sign on the beach with palm leaves. The Coast Guard called that a move a crucial factor in their discovery.

On Easter Sunday, their sailboat was damaged, leaving them trapped on an island in the Federated States of Micronesia. On April 6, Joint Rescue Sub-Center (JRSC) Guam received a distress call from a relative reporting her three uncles had not returned from Pikelot Atoll.

Responders successfully located the three mariners on Pikelot Atoll on the evening of Tuesday, April 9.

The Coast Guard then dropped a radio to the men, who reported they were healthy and had survived on coconuts. The rescuers then returned the men and their sailboat safely home 100 nautical miles to Polowat Atoll, Chuuk State.

“Every life saved, and every mariner returned home is a testament to the enduring partnership and mutual respect that characterizes our relationship, making a profound impact on the lives of individuals and the resilience of communities across the FSM,” Lt. Cmdr. Christine Igisomar, the search and rescue mission coordinator on the day they were rescued said.