Three men went out on a boating trip on a 19-foot long skiff when it capsized in the middle of the ocean, due to a large wave.
The men were forced to swim 2 miles in the pitch-black ocean towards a remote island offering them salvation from the deadly waters. They arrived on the small Pacific Island of Fanadik, one of the small islands of the Federated States of Micronesia.
Families of the missing men notified coast guards of the trio being missing, the coast guards began a search for the boaters. The search involved two cargo ships and a navy plane.
Meanwhile, the three men who were stuck on the island became tired of their predicament so decided to take matters into their own hands. They structured large capital letters out of tree bark, sticks, rocks and palm leaves they saw laying around and made out the words 'HELP' on the sandy beach.
Soon after the message was written it was spotted by the Navy plane, along with the three men frantically waving their life vests standing next to the capital letters. The Navy plane contacted the local coast guard. Their rescue was a success, they were put on a boat back to Pulap, the location of their departure.
No injuries have been reported from the incident and the three stranded men are now safe at home.