Men stranded on island saved after making ‘HELP’ sign with leaves

(NewsNation) — Three mariners stranded on an island in the Pacific Ocean were saved after making a “HELP” sign made from leaves from palm trees that was seen by a U.S. Navy aircraft.

The mariners had been on Pikelot Atoll, which is part of the Federated States of Micronesia, for “more than a week” before being rescued by the Coast Guard and Navy, a news release said.

According to the release, the mariners, all men in their 40s, began their trip in a small, 20-foot open skiff with an outboard motor from Polowat Atoll on Easter Sunday.

Then, on Saturday, Joint Rescue Sub-Center Guam received a distress call from one of the men’s relatives who said her three uncles had not returned from Pikelot Atoll.

Crews from the JRSC Guam coordinated a “multifaceted search and rescue operation,” the Coast Guard said. While there were challenges at first when mobilizing air assets because of availability, operational commitments and weather conditions, they were able to engage a U.S. Navy P-8 aircraft crew from Kadena Air Force Base in Japan.

That aircraft identified the mariners April 7.

“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, the search and rescue mission coordinator on the day they were located, said in a statement.

Aircraft crew members sent survival packages down to the mariners, while the U.S. Coast Guard ship Oliver Henry was rerouted to Pikelot to rescue them.

On Monday, a U.S. Coast Guard HC-130J Hercules aircraft flew over the area and relocated the mariners, who confirmed they were in good health with a radio that was dropped by the aircraft. Although their skiff had sustained damage that made it “non-functional,” it was recovered, and the men had food and water.

The next day, the crews on the Oliver Henry successfully rescued the stranded men and their equipment, taking them to Polowat Atoll.

“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. “This recent operation near Pikelot Atoll hits home the kind of difference we can make. It’s about more than just performing a duty; it’s about the real human connections we forge and the lives we touch.”