Two sailors who survived being stranded on a desert island for a week
have been rescued after a plane spotted an SOS message written in the
sand.
Linus and Sabina Jack, believed to be a couple in their 50s, had
disappeared after setting sail from the Pacific island of Weno, in Micronesia, on 17 August.They were due to reach Tamatam, around 160 miles away, the following day
but they never arrived and a search operation was mounted for the 18ft
boat.
Micronesia’s National Police Maritime Wing, the US Coast Guard, local
rescuers and volunteers mounted wide-ranging searches but found no
trace of the missing couple or their vessel.
Hope for a successful outcome dwindled until Wednesday, when a search
ship 150 miles to the north-east of the Jacks’ intended destination
spotted a flashing light.
The US Embassy in Kolonia said someone attempted to signal a coast
guard vessel off the uninhabited Fayu Atoll with a torch, which the
missing sailors were known to have in their boat.
A search plane was sent over the island to check for signs of life
the following morning, photographing the missing couple and their boat
on a sandy beach.
They had drawn the letters “SOS” around 20ft high in the sand and
could be seen waving to the aircraft from the palm-fringed shore.
Images showed they had built a makeshift shelter from driftwood and leaves on East Fayu island.
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