A “HELP” sign made of palm tree leaves saved three sailors stranded on a tiny Pacific atoll for more than a week when the US Coast Guard noticed it from above.
The sailors were surviving on coconuts and water from a well for more than a week
The three men were discovered Tuesday evening on the tiny Pikelot Atoll, part of the Federated States of Micronesia. They had been surviving on coconuts and water from a well, according to officials, but were quickly running out of food when they were rescued.
The trio, who have not been recognized but are all in their forties and related to one another, made their urgent plea using palm tree branches. They were recovered in good health, albeit slightly dehydrated, thanks to collaboration between the US Coast Guard stationed in the region and the US Navy.
The sailors had traveled on Easter Sunday from Polowat Atoll, around 115 miles away, on a fishing trip in a traditional 20-foot skiff with an outboard motor, the Coast Guard said in a statement.
The Coast Guard’s Joint Rescue Sub-Center in Guam received a distress call from a woman reporting that her three uncles were missing and had not returned from Pikelot Atoll.
“Their initial goal was to fish around Pikelot, but the skiff was damaged when they approached the island due to the swells surging on the island and surrounding shoal,” said Sara Muir, public affairs officer with the U.S. Coast Guard in Guam, via email.
The three guys had planned to meet up with another family when they arrived at Pikelot, but the other party chose not to travel owing to poor weather and sea conditions.
The sailors’ palm tree sign alerted authorities to their location when a Coast Guard HC-130J Hercules plane noticed it from above
The initial search area covered more than 78,000 square nautical miles. Only the sailors’ palm tree sign alerted authorities to their location when a Coast Guard HC-130J Hercules plane noticed it from above.
“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,” Lt. Chelsea Garcia said in a statement.
“Every life saved and every mariner returned home is a testament to the enduring partnership and mutual respect that characterize our relationship, making a profound impact on the lives of individuals and the resilience of communities across the Federated States of Micronesia,” said Lt. Cmdr. Christine Igisomar, who coordinated the rescue mission.
Pikelot Atoll is an uninhabited coral island measuring about 31 acres, located about 415 miles southeast of Guam and occasionally visited by fishing boats.
The Coast Guard reported that inclement weather and a shortage of planes hampered the rescue mission. “Persistent efforts” eventually led to the USCGC Oliver Henry, already at sea in Micronesia, being redirected to assist with the rescue.
Micronesia is a cluster of over 600 islands that span a large area of the Pacific.
After being rescued, the trio was transported back to Polowat
The plane dropped survival items and a radio on the island, and the Oliver Henry was diverted to pick them up.
The sailors communicated via radio that 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,” according to the Coast Guard.
After being rescued, the trio was transported back to Polowat.
“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,” said Lt. Ray Cerrato, commanding officer of the Oliver Henry.
By a rare coincidence, one of the Coast Guard rescuers not only spoke the Yap State sailors’ native language but also discovered that he was related to them.
Eugene Halishlius is normally stationed at the United States Coast Guard Base Guam, but has been temporarily posted to the Oliver Henry; after speaking with them, it was discovered that he and the survivors are third and fourth cousins.
Authorities had previously rescued sailors who got stuck on the island. The Australian Defense Force discovered three Micronesians on Pikelot in 2020 after they used palm tree fronds to spell out “SOS.”
The Coast Guard also stated that everyone who travels to sea should carry a radio beacon, which is available for rent in some areas, so that they may announce their whereabouts in an emergency.