Three sailors have been rescued from a tiny uninhabited Pacific island after spelling out a giant ‘HELP’ sign in the sand using palm leaves.

The three men were stranded on the tiny Pikelot Atoll in Micronesia for more than a week before they were rescued.

The desperate trio survived the experience by eating coconuts.

The three men, all in their 40s, have not been named; however, they are believed to be brothers.

The rescue began when a woman contacted Joint Rescue Sub-Centre (JRSC) Guam to say her uncles had set out to sea and not returned.

Their last known location was on another small island around 100 nautical miles from where they were eventually found, which they had left on Easter Sunday.

The had embarked in a small 20-foot open skiff equipped with an outboard motor and all three had experience navigating the Micronesian waters.

Rescuers reach the three stranded sailors on a remote Pacific island. Image: US Coast Guard

After receiving the distress call, the JRSC enlisted the help of the US Navy and US Coastguard to begin a search across an initial area spanning over 78,000 square nautical miles.

The breakthrough came on April 7th when a US Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft spotted the sailor’s palm leaf ‘HELP’ sign and was able to make contact with them.

“In a remarkable testament to their will to be found, the mariners spelled out "HELP" on the beach using palm leaves, a crucial factor in their discovery,” said search and rescue mission coordinator Lt. Chelsea Garcia.

“This act of ingenuity was pivotal in guiding rescue efforts directly to their location.”

Rescuers reach the three stranded sailors on a remote Pacific island. Image: US Coast Guard

The aircraft crew was able to drop survival packages to the three men and the following day a US Coast Guard plane was able to drop a radio to them to open communication.

The sailors confirmed they were in good health and now had access to food and water.

They told the rescuers they had been able to recover their boat but it was too badly damaged to return to sea.

The following morning, they were successfully rescued and returned home.

Rescuers reach the three stranded sailors on a remote Pacific island. Image: US Coast Guard

"This recent operation near Pikelot Atoll hits home the kind of difference we can make,” said US Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) commanding officer Lt. Ray Cerrato.

“It's about more than just performing a duty; it's about the real human connections we forge and the lives we touch.

“Every day, I'm reminded of the impact we have and the bonds we build. It's incredibly rewarding to see the faces of those we've helped. We're not just a crew; we're part of the heartbeat of the Pacific, and I couldn't be prouder of the work we do.”

The US Coast Guard is urging all sailors to ensure their boats are equipped with an with an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) before heading out to sea.