Three sailors from Micronesia who were shipwrecked on a tiny island in the West Pacific were rescued after Australian and American planes spotted the giant "SOS" they had drawn on the beach.
The Australian army explained that it had spotted the three men on Sunday, August 2, on Pikelot islet, 190 kilometers from where they had left three days earlier.
The 7-meter boat they were on ran out of fuel and then drifted.
Three healthy sailors
Alerted by the Guam-based Pacific Rescue and Coordination Center, American and Australian planes were mobilized and spotted the SOS drawn in the sand on Sunday.
#OurPeople from 1 Avn and 2 RAR, on board HMAS Canberra have assisted locating a three-person boat crew that had gone missing in Micronesia. Great work to all those involved!
To read more about the mission, head to → https://t.co/EM5PfXASx5. pic.twitter.com/RfOw3ORqnU
A helicopter was dispatched from the Australian ship "HMAS Canberra" with food and water, ensuring that the three castaways were in good health.
They were later rescued by a Micronesian patrol boat, the Australian military said.
With AFP
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