3 men rescued from Pacific island after writing SOS in sand

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Three men have been rescued from a tiny Pacific island after writing a giant SOS sign in the sand that was spotted from above, authorities say.

The men had been missing in the Micronesia archipelago for nearly three days when their distress signal was spotted Sunday on uninhabited Pikelot Island by searchers on Australian and U.S. aircraft, the Australian defense department said Monday.

The men had apparently set out from Pulawat atoll in a 7-meter (23-foot) boat on July 30 and had intended to travel about 43 kilometers (27 miles) to Pulap atoll when they sailed off course and ran out of fuel, the department said.

Searchers in Guam asked for Australian help. The military ship, Canberra, which was returning to Australia from exercises in Hawaii, diverted to the area and joined forces with U.S. searchers from Guam.



In this photo provided by the Australian Defence Force, an Australian Army helicopter lands on Pikelot Island in the Federated States of Micronesia, where three men were found, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020, safe and healthy after missing for three days. The men were missing in the Micronesia archipelago east of the Philippines for nearly three days when their "SOS" sign was spotted by searchers on Australian and U.S. aircraft, the Australian defense department said. (Australian Defence Force via AP)


Read more: https://apnews.com/1566b3c6a377ee907a0f2e143a5b26c9

[raccoon]

1. Remember Gilligan and the others tried that? Seems like

They laid out logs to spell SOS, and guess what? Gilligan changed the position of the logs so they spelled SOL—the name of one of the astronauts.

But that was good thinking on these guys’ part, and I’m glad somebody rescued them.

[soothsayer]

2. Classic!

[NurseJackie]

3. Found it! :-D

[BumRushDaShow]

4. LOL

[cojoel]

8. Of course the castaways could never be rescued

(later made for TV movies notwithstanding)

If they were rescued it would have been the end of the show. I suppose they could have made a final episode, but the show was cancelled somewhat unexpectedly after the third season.

[3Hotdogs]

5. How da fuck do you go on a trip like that without an emergency signal beacon....$500 from R.E.I. ?

[miyazaki]

6. They winged it and saved 500.

[3Hotdogs]

7. Yeah, I guess, since they was skilled sailors, they don't need no 'mergincee stuff.

[pfitz59]

11. $500 could be a year's pay

these islanders are poor

[canetoad]

12. Give them space

Islanders paddling from one atoll to another. Ended up west of their destination.

[Bengus81]

9. Sailed off course?? Ever heard of a GPS? 27 miles and got lost?? Gawd

Take one or take FIVE with you, they're dirt cheap anymore. Hell I bought a new one for a long drive to Key West last Jan and it cost about $60 with a SEVEN inch screen. I took my older small screen Garmin along for backup but never needed it.

So what was these idiots excuse??

[CTyankee]

10. Ever heard of "Their 15 minutes of fame" or a variation thereof...

There will be some heroic tag attached to this story, but that's the reason.

[canetoad]

13. FFS calm down

Pull up Google Earth and key in these three locations.

Pikealot
Pulat
Poluwat

Then gripe about them not having GPS. I really shake my head at your ignorance.

[Bengus81]

14. I just did a Google seach and that Island is shown and mentioned everywhere

And NO I'm not talking about the latest news articles,it's ON GOOGLE MAPS,ITS ON GOOGLE EARTH. Hell..it even has it's own page on Wiki.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pikelot

Calling me ignorant?? Thanks for showing your fucking ignorance when the FACTS are in front of you just like it would have been for those bozo's before they even sailed. Ever seen a sailing chart? That island would have been on that too.

Guarantee that island is ON a quality GPS like GARMIN and others.

[yardwork]

15. You seem to be assuming that these are wealthy tourists.

How do you know the people could afford a GPS?

There is a basic assumption being made here that is shocking to me. Check yourself. And stop with the insults.

[Bengus81]

16. Try reading, I didn't START the insults...

Can't afford a GPS but they have a ocean going sailboat?? Get real. AGAIN try reading my post before thinking you just HAVE to jump in. I just bought a GPS with a 7" screen for a mere $60 bucks in Jan. That's out of reach for someone owning a ocean going vessel?

That island was 27 miles from where they lived not 2700. It would have been on charts as well as on a GPS.

[yardwork]

18. Your posts here are awful. Just stop.

It sounds like these people are islanders. Why are you so angry at them?

[Bengus81]

20. I don't give a rats azzz if you like my posts or not

When you hit 50k posts does that give you some kind of 'forum darling' privileges that states people can only post what YOU agree with or they're "awful"? Did you bitch about the person who posted about them not having a emergency location transponder? Nah...

Those clowns put others lives in danger for no reason--or as others have posted maybe it was done for MEDIA attention. People in the US that hike out into the desert with two bottles of water, no maps, no GPS do the same by putting others in danger.

Doesn't matter if it's sailing, flying, hiking into the wilderness you prepare for the worst and have the supplies and equipment or DON'T GO.

[Bengus81]

17. Totally ignored the reply to me eh buddy??

BTW....How come you didn't tell that person to STOP with the insults? Because it FIT what you wanted to say, and any post that doesn't in "your mind" becomes an insult? Sounds like logic Trump uses.

Your also ignoring the tremendous cost to taxpayers to rescue these buffoons that should have never needed it.

[Rizen]

19. I thought that only happened in movies

lol.

[Yeehah]

21. I think I would have just stayed there

I could learn to love coconuts!