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An engine failure on their boat puts three fishermen in distress. They find refuge on a deserted island. And history repeats itself.
Santa Rita/Guam – Micronesia consists of countless islands. Some are so small that they are not even inhabited. Like Pikelot. And yet the twelve hectares of land in the middle of the Pacific received an unexpected visitor for the second time in just a few years. In 2020, three men were already stranded there and drew the attention of an air patrol with an “SOS” lettering in the sand.
Fishermen get into distress in the Pacific: small island becomes a refuge for the second time since 2020
Now they saved themselves three men again on the island. And this time too, a message on the beach played an important role in the rescue. The US Coast Guard reports that the fishing trio set off from the Polowat Atoll on Easter Sunday in a six-meter-long open boat powered by an outboard motor. However, the technology apparently went on strike and put the men, who are in their 40s, in distress at sea.
Together they escaped to the nearby island, which is part of the Federated States of Micronesia. In contrast to their predecessors, they chose the word “HELP” – meaning help – which they laid out on the sand with palm fronds. From then on it was all about waiting and hoping. This went on for a few days.
Involved in the rescue mission: The USCGC Oliver Henry picked up the castaways on Pikelot. (Archive image) © IMAGO / piemags
Shipwrecked people on a deserted island: rescuers send out planes and ships
Until a relative contacted the Joint Rescue Sub-Center (JRSC) Guam, a U.S. territory, on April 6 and reported that her uncles were missing. The trio did not return from Pikelot Atoll, which is about 100 nautical miles – about 185 kilometers – northwest of their starting point.
The search and rescue operation that was launched immediately was made difficult by weather turbulence. While the U.S. Navy assisted from Kadena Air Base, Japan, the Coast Guard ship USCGC Oliver Henry – USCGC stands for United States Coast Guard Cutter – was diverted. The search area therefore extended to over 78,000 nautical miles.
Fishermen on the island are discovered from the air: palm frond message as a “decisive factor”
Despite everything, the first good news came on April 7th, when the crew of a P8 Poseidon aircraft discovered the shipwrecked people in the sand thanks to their message. Lieutenant Chelsea Garcia, who coordinated the mission that day, praised the “HELP” inscription as a “critical factor in their discovery.” This idea is “remarkable evidence of their desire to be found.”
The USCGC Oliver Henry then made his way to the site. Meanwhile, the fishermen were supplied with everything they needed from the air. On April 8, the crew of a Hercules aircraft dropped a radio over Pikelot, a “decisive moment in the rescue operation” for the Coast Guard.
From then on, direct communication was finally possible and the sailors were able to reassure the emergency services. All three of them are healthy and have access to water and food. Their daily meals are said to have consisted of coconuts and water from a well. They also reported that their boat’s outboard motor no longer worked.
Rescuer is surprised when he meets the castaways: “I’m related to them!”
On April 9th, after nine days and nights, the fishermen were able to leave the island again when the coast guard ship picked them up and their equipment. That’s when it came sea CNN for a special encounter. The rescuers sent Corporal Eugene Halishlius, a Micronesian, one of their first to the island because he speaks the local language.
He described the strange situation to the broadcaster: “I saw the astonishment on their faces: ‘Who is this guy who speaks our language?'” But the first doubtful feeling soon gave way to surprise and great joy. Because when he revealed his name, the fishermen immediately knew what to do with him.
“It’s a crazy world,” Halishlius marvels: “I found out that I’m related to them!” One of those rescued was his third cousin, the other two were his fourth cousins.
Cry for help in the sand: Thanks to these palm fronds, the three fishermen were quickly found. © US Coast Guard/dpa
US Coast Guard rescues three fishermen from desert island: “More than just doing a duty”
So they had a lot to tell each other on the following boat trip. Not just about Pikelot. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Ray Cerrato was happy about the mission’s happy ending. “It’s about more than just fulfilling a duty, it’s about the real human connections we make and the lives we touch,” USCGC Commander Oliver Henry of the Coast Guard was quoted as saying.
He continued: “It is incredibly rewarding to see the faces of those we have helped. We are not just a crew, we are part of the heartbeat of the Pacific.” More than 300 U.S. Coast Guard members are stationed in Micronesia and surrounding areas.
Shipwrecked people landed on Pikelot again: US Coast Guard believes it was a coincidence
The question remains whether Pikelot has a special attraction for trios in distress. Chief Warrant Officer Sara Muir doesn’t think so. “It could be a coincidence,” said the U.S. Coast Guard public affairs officer for Micronesia and Guam when asked about it CNN because of the two similar cases in 2020 and 2024.
The people of Micronesia often travel from island to island and demonstrate “a lot of skill and experience”. But no one is safe from accidents. Sometimes they would just lead to family reunions.
It was only by chance that a man was rescued after two weeks on the open sea, after the search had already stopped. A German stranded on a deserted islandafter he capsized his boat. A sailor and his dog had been hoping for rescue for three months and had already given up hope. Nine tourists were from a cruise ship on an island left behind. (mg)