Pair Found On Remote Chuuk State Island After Writing SOS In Sand

Two people stranded on a remote, uninhabited island in the Pacific have been rescued after they wrote "SOS" in the sand.

They were spotted by the crew of a US Navy aircraft who gave the coastguard in Guam their location.

Hawaii News Now reported that they left Weno island in Micronesia on Wednesday 17 August, and were expected to arrive at Tamatam island the following day.

But they did not turn up.

The coastguard was told on 19 August that their 18-foot vessel had gone missing.

In the following days, the coastguard and others searched nearly 17,000 square miles looking for the lost mariners.

They apparently had limited supplies and no emergency equipment.

On Wednesday, a ship saw some flashing lights on the uninhabited Chuuk State island.

The US Navy was informed and spotted the survivors - and their plea for help - on the beach.

They were eventually picked up and taken to a patrol boat.