21 Feb 2018

Fishermen rescued after eight days stranded at sea in Micronesia

4:15 pm on 21 February 2018

Three fishermen have been rescued in the Federated States of Micronesia after they spent eight days stranded at sea.

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Photo: travisphotowork/123RF

The 19-foot skiff was first reported missing on 12 February after it failed to return from a fishing expedition near Chuuk.

Coast Guard planes from Guam searched for several days, before a US Navy plane was diverted from Japan to join the search.

The Navy said its Poseidon aircraft found the skiff and dropped a supply kit, before the survivors were picked up by a nearby police vessel and returned to Chuuk.

It said the skiff had food and water supplies, but there was no safety equipment or radios.