Three sailors were rescued from an atoll near Japan after they wrote ‘HELP’ in the sand on the tiny island after.
The men, experienced sailors in their 40s, set out from Polowat Atoll, a coral island in Micronesia, on April 1 on an open skiff, officials said.
On April 6, the Joint Rescue Sub-Center in Guam received a ‘distress call’ from a relative of the men, who said that her three uncles had not returned from their voyage to Pikelot Atoll, an outer island in Yap State, Micronesia.
Watchstanders ‘immediately’ started to coordinate rescue efforts for the stranded sailors along with the U.S. Coast Guard, and despite adverse weather conditions and limited access in the area, a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft crew based in Japan was sent to the 78,000 square nautical mile area.
By April 7, the crew located the men at Pikelot Atoll after their ‘act of ingenuity’ guided the rescue team directly to them. Their boat engine had stopped working and their boat was damaged.
‘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,’ Lt. Chelsea Garcia, the search and rescue mission coordinator said.
Three male sailors were stranded on Pikelot Atoll since April 1 and were rescued on April 7 after officials spotted their large ‘HELP’ message written in the sand
On April 6, the Joint Rescue Sub-Center in Guam received a ‘distress call’ from a relative of the men, who said that her three uncles had not returned from their voyage to Pikelot Atoll
‘This act of ingenuity was pivotal in guiding rescue efforts directly to their location,’ Garcia added.
Once the aircraft identified the written message, the crew dropped survival packages for the men until further assistance arrived.
The next day, a U.S. Coast Guard aircraft based in Hawaii flew over the area and established communication with the men after dropping a radio to them.
‘The mariners confirmed they were in good health, had access to food and water, and recovered their skiff, which unfortunately sustained damage, rendering it and its outboard engine non-functional,’ officials said.
‘They expressed a desire for assistance in returning to Polowat.’
USCGC Oliver Henry, a fast-response cutter ship, reached the mariners on Tuesday morning and brought them home to Polowat Atoll safely.
‘Whether we’re out there protecting valuable resources or saving lives, we’re not just visitors – we’re members of this vibrant maritime community that connects all these islands,’ Lt. Ray Cerrato, commanding officer of USCGC Oliver Henry, said.
Cerrato added that this specific rescue mission ‘hit home’ on the ‘kind of difference’ the crew can make for people.
USCGC Oliver Henry, a fast-response cutter ship, reached the mariners on Tuesday morning and brought them home to Polowat Atoll safely
The U.S. Coast Guard reminded mariners that they should make sure their vessels are fully equipped with an Emergency Position Indicating Radio ‘to enhance safety on the water’
Incredible rescue images showed the U.S. Coast Guard crew rescuing the men from the island as they brought them back home on an orange boat.
Another pictured captured officials heading to shore to save the men as they stood on the sand.
Lt. Commander Christine Igisomar said: ‘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.’
The U.S. Coast Guard reminded mariners that they should make sure their vessels are fully equipped with an Emergency Position Indicating Radio ‘to enhance safety on the water.’
In 2020, three other men were rescued from Pikelot Atoll after they wrote a large ‘SOS’ message in the sand that was spotted from the air by Australian pilots.
Their call for help, written on the beach of Pikelot Island, where they had set out from on July 30, was seen by Australian and US aircraft.
The men were reportedly sailing between the atolls Poluwat and Pulap when they veered off course and ran out of fuel.
In 2020, three other men were rescued from Pikelot Atoll after they wrote a large ‘SOS’ message in the sand that was spotted from the air by Australian pilots
Pikelot Island is part of the Caroline Islands, a scattered archipelago in the western Pacific
The Australian Defence Force and the HMAS Canberra joined together in the operation and sailed overnight to reach the search area.
With assistance from US Aircraft operating out of Guam, the HMAS Canberra located the sailors on the island.
An Army reconnaissance helicopter landed on the island and delivered food and water to the three men.
They confirmed the identities of the sailors and checked to see if they had suffered any injuries.
Pikelot Island is part of the Caroline Islands, a scattered archipelago in the western Pacific.
