Palm Leaves H-E-L-P to Rescue Castaways

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H-E-L-P on beach with palm Leaves helped to Rescue castaways

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A U.S. maritime surveillance aircraft found one of three men who swam to uninhabited island of Fanadik.

Reports say that three men went on a 19-foot skiff  on April 4.  After setting out to sea, within a few hours after their departure, a big wave capsized their boat.  They swam all night until they arrived at Fandadik Island, approximately four nautical miles from Pulap.  For three days, the men remained stranded on the uninhabited island.

The P-8, attached to Patrol Squadron (VP) 5, and operating from Misawa, Japan, responded to a call for assistance from the U.S.  Coast Guard and located the men as they waved life jackets and stood next to a large “help” sign made of palm leaves.

A small boat from Pulap recovered the men from the island with no reported injuries.  VP-5 is in the midst of a routine deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo/Released).

Source: U.S. Coast Guard