Maritime Accident News

After funeral services, three teens found alive in Pacific

Three teenage South Pacific islanders who drifted for 50 days were found alive this week.

The boys—two 15 years old and one 14—had been missing at sea since early October while rowing between two islands in the Tokelau (New Zealand) chain. After a major search by the New Zealand air force, the trio was officially declared dead. A eulogy was given at the memorial for Samuel Pelesa, Filo Filo and Edward Nasau.

Meanwhile, they were drifting 800 miles to a remote area well northeast of Fiji until being spotted waving frantically by a New Zealand fishing boat Wednesday afternoon.

They were reportedly physically depleted, thin and sunburned. They drank sea water in recent days when their rainwater supply ran out and survived on fish and a seagull that landed in the boat. However, the rescuing fishermen reported that their mental state was strong.

Their village in the atoll of Atafu, population 1500, erupted in a celebration of laughter and tears of joy when one of the boy’s grandmother broke the news of their rescue after receiving a call from the fishing boat.

The boys will be taken to a Fiji hospital on Friday.

Source: Associated Press

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