3 stranded sailors, who wrote SOS on sand, rescued from Micronesia island

Three men, all sailors from Micronesian island of Pulap, were
rescued on Sunday by US and Australian military aircraft after they wrote SOS
on the sand of the island they were stuck on.

The three of them were missing since Friday after their small boat
ran out of fuel. They managed to reach Pikelot island in Micronesia, about 118
miles west of their departure point. After they were reported missing, American
authorities in a joint operation with the Australian military, started a search
operation.

On Sunday afternoon, while an American aircraft was finishing its
patrol for the day, the crew noticed the letters SOS sprawled on sand and the
boat next to it on the island. They started preparing for the rescue along with
the Australian military, who later brought food and water for the three men
through a helicopter, reported The New York Times.

In a statement by from the Australian Defense Military, Capt.
Terry Morrison, the commanding officer of the ship that helped the search
operation said, “I am proud of the response and professionalism of all on board
as we fulfill our obligation to contribute to the safety of life at sea wherever
we are in the world.”