In an unusual scene that seems like something out of a movie, the US military this week rescued three individuals stranded on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean after using palm leaves to write “HELP” in large letters on the beach.
The lost sailors spent more than a week stuck alongside their damaged boat on Pikelot Atoll, a small island that is part of the Federated States of Micronesia, before a U.S. military ship picked them up on Tuesday, they said. U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia, in a statement from Sector Guam. Wednesday statement.
A US Navy reconnaissance plane spotted the men from above on Sunday, leading to a breakthrough in the rescue operation.
“In a remarkable demonstration of their desire to be found, the sailors spelled ‘HELP’ on the beach using palm fronds, a crucial factor in their discovery,” said Lt. Chelsea Garcia, mission coordinator for search and rescue, in Tuesday’s Coast’s. Guard’s statement.
The crew of the USCGC Oliver Henry makes contact with three sailors stranded on Pikelot Atoll, Yap State, Federated States of Micronesia, April 9, 2024. U.S. Coast Guard photo
“This act of ingenuity was crucial in guiding the rescue efforts directly on scene,” Garcia added.
The three sailors initially embarked on a voyage on March 31 from Polowat Atoll, located approximately 100 nautical miles southeast of Pikelot. Nearly a week later, on Saturday, a relative of the men reported them missing to the U.S. military, which quickly mobilized a search and rescue operation, according to the Coast Guard.
A Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft, used for patrol and reconnaissance missions, first identified the men, whose small motorboat had suffered damage and could no longer operate, Sunday in Pikelot and their dropped survival packages.
The crew of the USCGC Oliver Henry rescues three stranded sailors on Pikelot Atoll, Yap State, Federated States of Micronesia, April 9, 2024. U.S. Coast Guard photo
The next day, Monday, a Coast Guard HC-130J Hercules recovery aircraft radio dropped on the island so the United States could communicate with the sailors, who said they were in good health and they still had access to food and water, but they needed food. helps them leave the island.
On Tuesday morning, Coastguard Cutter Oliver Henry had arrived in Pikelot to physically rescue the men and return them to Polowat.
“This successful operation highlights the effective coordination and partnership between the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy and regional partners,” Garcia said. “We express our gratitude to everyone involved.”
The crew of the USCGC Oliver Henry rescues three stranded sailors on Pikelot Atoll, Yap State, Federated States of Micronesia, April 9, 2024. U.S. Coast Guard photo
In its statement, the Coast Guard suggested that mariners should equip boats with a radio emergency locator beacon, which is a battery-powered radio transmitter, to “improve safety on the water.” It is not known whether the three sailors had one when they set out on their journey on March 31.
Search and rescue operations are an important part of the Coast Guard’s responsibilities. This important branch of service, for example, led the charge in last June’s search for a submersible that went missing while en route to the wreck of the Titanic. The Coast Guard has also conducted more recent searches for people who went missing while on cruise ships.
The Coast Guard has a long history of operation in the Pacific: its ships have patrolled U.S. territories and other neighboring countries for decades. But the service is increasingly taking a more active role in the region, amid growing tensions between the United States and China.
Such activity in the Pacific includes conducting training and exercises with allies and partners and helping island nations control their coastal waters.
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