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Reuters

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 on Sunday on uninhabited Pikelot Island by searchers on Australian and US aircraft, the Australian defence department said.
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The men had apparently set out from Pulawat atoll in a 7-metre boat on July 30 and had intended to travel about 43km to Pulap atoll when they sailed off course and ran out of fuel, the department said.
Pikelot is a low coral islet, with forest and scrub, that is home to a seabird rookery and turtle nesting site.


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 US searchers from Guam.
The men were found about 190km from where they had set out.

“I am proud of the response and professionalism of all on board as we fulfil our obligation to contribute to the safety of life at sea wherever we are in the world,” said the Canberra’s commanding officer, Captain Terry Morrison, in a statement.
The men were found in good condition, and an Australian military helicopter was able to land on the beach and give them food and water. A Micronesian patrol vessel was dispatched to pick them up.
SOS is an internationally recognised distress signal that originates from Morse code.



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Sailors stranded on Pacific desert island use giant SOS to attract rescue

An Australian Army helicopter lands near the sailors’ SOS sign on Pikelot Island. Photo: Handout via Reuters

epa08582830 A handout photo made available by the Australian Department of Defence shows Australian Army soldiers from 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, delivering food and supplies to three stranded mariners from the Federated States of Micronesia following a Search and Rescue mission, on Pikelot Island in the Federated States of Micronesia, 03 August 2020 (issued 04 August 2020). Three men were found safe and healthy after missing for three days. Their SOS message outlined on a beach was spotted from the air by Australian and US aircraft searching the area. EPA-EFE/AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE HANDOUT -- MANDATORY CREDIT: COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA 2020 -- HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES *** Local Caption *** HMAS Canberra and its embarked aviation assets have assisted in locating the three-person crew of a skiff that had been missing for nearly three days in waters off the Federated States of Micronesia. The men were found on 2 August in good condition on Pikelot Island,

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The men had been missing for nearly three days when their distress signal was spotted on uninhabited Pikelot Island
They had apparently intended to travel about 43km in their 7-metre boat, but were found 190km from where they set out



The men had been missing in the Micronesia archipelago for nearly three days when their distress signal was spotted on uninhabited Pikelot Island.


Defence

Diplomacy