Three Micronesian mariners abandoned on a small, far off island in the western Pacific have been spared after rescuers detected their SOS message on a sea shore.
The men were found on Pikelot Island in Micronesia by Australian and US military airplane on Sunday, the Australian Defense Force (ADF) said.
They had been absent for three days after their 7m (23ft) boat came up short on fuel and wandered distant course.
All were found in a "great condition" with no significant wounds, the ADF said.
Experts in Guam, a close by US region, started the hunt on Saturday, after the men neglected to finish a 42km (26 miles) trip from Pulawat to Pulap atolls.
Rather their vessel wound up at Pikelot Island, about 200km west of where they had set off.
After their SOS was spotted from the air, an Australian helicopter arrived on the small island and gave the men food and water.
SOS spotted on camera spares Australian camper
The helicopter originated from the HMAS Canberra, which had been en route to Hawaii for maritime activities when it was called to help in the hunt.
The mariners were to be brought home by a Micronesian watch vessel, Australian authorities said.
Micronesia, in the western Pacific, comprises of around 600 minuscule islands dissipated over an immense sea breadth.
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