The US coast guard rescued three Cubans stranded on a desert island for roughly five weeks, after officers saw the group waving a makeshift flag to gain their attention.
The group, including two men and a woman, had been living on an uninhabited Bahamian island, Anguilla Cay, for 33 days after their boat capsized.
The US coast guard found them while flying a routine mission from the Florida Keys, and told the Florida Sun Sentinel the group lived off coconuts, conchs and rats while on the island.
“We were alerted to them by the flags that they actually had in addition to a large cross that they put out there for themselves,” helicopter pilot Mike Allert told the Miami TV station WPLG.
The pilot said he then decided to fly back around Anguilla Cay to investigate and a crew returned to the island later on Monday to drop water, food and a radio.
A helicopter crew returned on Tuesday to pick them up.
#BreakingNews @USCG is assisting 3 people who have reportedly been stranded on Anguilla Cay, Bahamas for 33 days. An Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew has dropped a radio, food and water. More to follow.#D7 #Ready #Relevant #Responsive #searchandrescue #USCG pic.twitter.com/D263ptTarz
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) February 9, 2021
Coast guard officials said the group told them their boat capsized in rough waters and they were able to swim to the island.
“Being out in those harsh elements for a long period of time, they were very happy to see us,” Allert told ABC’s Good Morning America.
It was not immediately clear whether they were migrants attempting to come to the United States or if they were just lost at sea, Petty Officer 2nd Class Brandon Murray told the South Florida SunSentinel.
They were taken to the Lower Keys medical center, where none appeared to have serious injuries.
The group had also built themselves a temporary shelter, a coast guard official said.
“I cannot recall a time that we saved people who were stranded for over a month on an island. That is a new one for me.”
