Three sailors found themselves stranded on Pikelot Atoll in Micronesia after encountering trouble on their 20-foot open skiff.

Departing from Polowat Atoll on Easter Sunday, they aimed to cover a 100-nautical-mile voyage with an outboard motor.

However, their journey took a turn when they failed to return six days later, prompting a distress call from a concerned relative.

Coordinated efforts by the U.S. Coast Guard in Micronesia/Sector Guam and the U.S. Navy led to their rescue.

The sailors’ decision to spell out ‘HELP’ with palm leaves on the beach proved to be pivotal, the Good News Network reported.

This act of ingenuity guided rescue efforts directly to their location, as confirmed by a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft on April 7.

Survival packages were deployed to sustain the stranded sailors until further assistance arrived.

Two days later, on April 9, the USCG Oliver Henry successfully rescued the trio.

Following the incident, the U.S. Coast Guard emphasized the importance of equipping vessels with Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) for enhanced safety at sea.

Written by B.C. Begley