Three Stranded Fisherman Rescued from Remote Pacific Atoll

An aerial view of a remote desert island
Oceania Accidents & Emergencies
By
Updated Published

Three fishermen who were stranded for over a week on a remote Micronesian atoll are now safe, following a rescue operation by the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy.

The ordeal began on April 6 when the Coast Guard's station in Guam received a distress call from a woman reporting that her three uncles had not returned to Polowat Atoll from their fishing trip to Pikelot Atoll, approximately 100 nautical miles away. The fishermen, all in their 40s, had departed Polowat on March 31 in a 20-foot skiff.

The search for the men initially faced challenges due to the distance—about 350 nautical miles south of Guam in the Caroline Islands. However, efforts continued, and support was enlisted from a U.S. Navy P-8 aircrew based at Kadena Air Force Base in Japan, along with the fast response cutter USCGC Oliver Henry, which was operating in the region. The search covered an expansive area of over 78,000 square nautical miles.

The breakthrough came on April 7 when a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft located the fishermen on Pikelot Atoll. The men had constructed the word "HELP" with palm fronds on the beach, significantly aiding the rescue team.

The aircrew dropped essential survival supplies to them, and the following day, a Coast Guard HC-130J from Honolulu delivered a radio, allowing for direct communication. The fishermen reported they had sustenance but their boat was damaged, and they needed assistance to return home.

By the evening of April 9, the USCGC Oliver Henry reached the stranded men and transported them back to Polowat, covering the 100-nautical mile journey.

Reflecting on the mission, Lt. Ray Cerrato, the commanding officer of the USCGC Oliver Henry, expressed the deeper significance of their work: "This recent operation near Pikelot Atoll hits home the kind of difference we can make. It's about more than just performing a duty; it's about the real human connections we forge and the lives we touch. Every day, I'm reminded of the impact we have and the bonds we build."