Three men have been rescued from being stranded on a remote island in Micronesia after a "HELP" sign made with leaves led to their discovery.
The mariners, all aged in their 40s, were located on Tuesday after being stranded on Pikelot Atoll, near Guam, for more than a week.
They had been reported missing last Saturday when the trio did not return from their sailing trip.
US Coast Guard Lieutenant Chelsea Garcia said a US Navy aircraft identified the three men after conducting an aerial search.
"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," Lieutenant Garcia said.
"This act of ingenuity was pivotal in guiding rescue efforts directly to their location."
The aircraft crew deployed survival packages, including a radio, to the men to sustain them until further assistance could arrive.
With the radio, the mariners confirmed they were in good health, had access to food and water, and recovered their small boat but it had been damaged.
They were returned to Polowat Atoll.
A similar rescue occurred in 2020 when Australian authorities located three men on Pikelot Island after they wrote SOS in the sand.
ABC
