Three Cubans have been rescued from a deserted island in the Bahamas after reportedly living on coconuts and rats for 33 days.
The trio were airlifted to safety by the US Coast Guard on Tuesday after being spotted waving flags during a routine air patrol. Various local media reports suggested the group had lived on conch shells, rats and coconuts while struggling to find freshwater.
The two men and a woman told rescuers that their boat had capsized in rough waters between Cuba and the Florida Keys, leaving them stranded on Anguilla Cay, according to reports.
In a tweet, the Coast Guard explained: ‘Rescued the 3 Cuban nationals stranded on Anguilla Cay. A helicopter crew transferred the 2 men & 1 woman to Lower Keys Medical Center with no reported injuries.’
Earlier, it had tweeted that it was ‘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’, with a video showing a package being dropped out of a plane.
Mike Allert, the aircraft commander on the helicopter, told ABC News that a helicopter hoisted the group off the island in a 30 minute rescue.
They were then brought to the Lower Keys Medical Center in Key West, Florida, with no reported injuries, officials said, adding that they were fatigued and dehydrated.
Mr Allert said that their conditions were good considering how long they were stranded and a lack of fresh water on the island,.
Lieutenant Justin Dougherty added: ‘I am amazed that they were in such good shape. That is pretty extraordinary’, Local 10 reported.
‘It was incredible, I don’t know how they did it.’
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