Three Fishermen Rescued After Being Stranded on Remote Pacific Atoll
Three fishermen were miraculously rescued from the remote Pacific atoll of Pikelot after being stranded for over a week. The men had been missing since Easter Sunday and were found by the US Coast Guard cutter Oliver Henry.
The men’s survival skills were put to the test as they resorted to eating coconuts and drinking from a freshwater well on the uninhabited atoll. Their resourcefulness was further highlighted when they spelled out ‘Help’ in the sand using giant palm fronds, a message that ultimately led to their rescue.
In a striking twist of fate, one of the rescuers turned out to be a relative of the fishermen. The rescuer, a third cousin with the same last name, was part of the team that located the stranded men after spotting their distress signal.
The rescue operation was aided by a US Navy P-8A reconnaissance jet, which spotted the ‘Help’ message from above. This crucial clue helped guide rescue efforts to the remote location of Pikelot, which is located more than 400 miles south-east of Guam.
This is not the first time a rescue has been carried out on Pikelot, as a similar incident occurred four years ago. The successful rescue of the three fishermen serves as a reminder of the dangers of the open sea and the importance of being prepared for emergencies while out on the water.
“Prone to fits of apathy. Devoted music geek. Troublemaker. Typical analyst. Alcohol practitioner. Food junkie. Passionate tv fan. Web expert.”