United States Coast Guard
The U.S. Coast Guard rescued three lost mariners from an extremely remote island chain after the sailors were lost for over a week and it was made possible because the lost men had carved a comically large ‘HELP’ sign into the beach.
This is a shining example of how basic survival skills and making reasonable decisions can turn a horrible situation into a positive one. In a post on social media, the U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia Sector Guam shared images of the rescue along the story of how it all went down.
According to the USCG-Micronesia Sector Guam, the men were living on coconuts for the week plus that they were stranded on the island “in the remote atolls of Yap and Chuuk State, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).”
The three men were rescued from the Pikelot Atoll on April 9th after leaving from the Pikelot Atoll on Easter Sunday. When they weren’t heard from for several days, their niece called in a distress call to the Coast Guard and reported the three men in their 40s missing on their 20-foot open skiff.
United States Coast Guard
Lt. Chelsea Garcia of the USCG said “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. This act of ingenuity was pivotal in guiding rescue efforts directly to their location. This successful operation underscores the effective coordination and partnership between the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy, and regional partners. We extend our gratitude to everyone involved.”
United States Coast Guard
The major takeaway here is (1) bring a satellite phone if you’re ever going on a remote sailing trip and there’s the potential of getting lost but more importantly (2) learn how to split a coconut and dig ‘HELP’ in huge trench letters on the beach in case you ever get lost because it might save your life one day.