Couple rescued from remote tropical island after writing 'S.O.S.' in the sand
In case you ever need to be rescued from a tropical island, just remember, a well-placed S.O.S. is not only a Hollywood cliche.
A couple doing their best Blue Lagoon impression were rescued Friday from a remote island in Micronesia after writing the rescue message on the beach, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
A U.S. Navy aircraft took a look after lights were spotted on the uninhabited East Fayu Island, which lies far to the west of Hawaii, during a search for two missing people. The pair, a boat and their S.O.S. attempt were quickly spotted, and a patrol boat sent to pick up the lucky couple.
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"The Search and Rescue Operation for Linus and Sabina Jack has been successfully completed. They are found and are waiting for a ship to take them home," the U.S. Embassy in the Micronesian city of Kolonia wrote on Facebook.
The couple were headed to Tamatam Island from Weno Island in the Federated States of Micronesia, the Cost Guard said in a statement, but left with limited supplies and no emergency equipment.
Located in the Pacific, the Federated States of Micronesia is a country made up of more than 600 islands.
The condition of the pair is unknown, but a small makeshift shelter can be spotted in one of the images and both can be seen standing on the beach.
This is not the first time a giant distress signal has resulted in a happy ending. In 2015, a British tourist was rescued after writing "HELP" in the sand with a stick after getting lost in the Australian outback. In April, three castaways were rescued from Fanadik Island in the Pacific ocean after using palm fronds to write "HELP."
For all those explorers eager to spend time alone on a tropical island, perhaps consider winning one in a raffle next time. It would so much more relaxing, one imagines, and so much cheaper for the rescue team.
Ariel Bogle was an associate editor with Mashable in Australia covering technology. Previously, Ariel was associate editor at Future Tense in Washington DC, an editorial initiative between Slate and New America.
