Pair rescued from Pacific island after writing 'SOS' in the sand

CHUUK STATE, Micronesia, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- U.S. Coast Guard officials helped rescue two boaters stranded on an island near Micronesia after they wrote "SOS" in the sand.

The pair's makeshift "SOS" sign was spotted by crew on a U.S. Navy vessel, who alerted Coast Guard Sector Guam of their whereabouts on Aug. 25.

The pair had departed from Weno Island on Aug. 17 and were expected to arrive in Tatam the next day, but instead wound up stranded on the uninhabited island.

They had apparently departed on the one day trip with limited supplies and no safety equipment on board.

After the vessel was reported Aug. 19, the Coast Guard began a weeklong search totaling 16,571 square miles.

After the pair was discovered a patrol boat was sent out to retrieve the stranded boaters and transport them to Nomwin Atoll.