US rescues 3 Cubans stranded on island for 33 days
The U.S. Coast Guard on Tuesday rescued two men and a woman from Cuba, after they were stranded on a deserted island that's part of the Bahamas for 33 days. The three lost track of days as they survived on a diet of coconuts, conchs and rats. (Feb. 11) October 18, 2006 -//IPTC//DTD NITF 3.4//EN The U.S. Coast Guard on Tuesday rescued two men and a woman from Cuba, after they were stranded on a deserted island that's part of the Bahamas for 33 days. The three lost track of days as they survived on a diet of coconuts, conchs and rats. (Feb. 11) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: MANDATORY CREDIT US COAST GUARD DISTRICT 7 US COAST GUARD DISTRICT 7 - MANDATORY CREDIT US COAST GUARD DISTRICT 7 Anguilla Cay, Bahamas - 9 February 2021 ++AUDIO MUTE AS INCOMING++ 1. View from helicopter, first person in basket is pulled up 2. Second person pulled up in basket 3. Basket pulled into helicopter, second person gets out of basket, sits down 4. Third person pulled up to helicopter 5. Basket pulled into helicopter, person gets out of basket, sits down Two men and a woman had lost track of days as they survived on a diet of coconuts, conchs and rats for more than a month after they were cast away on a deserted island between Florida and Cuba. U.S. Coast Guard officials said the trio from Cuba told them their boat had capsized in rough waters and they were able to swim to Anguilla Cay, where they spent 33 days before they were spotted and rescued. The uninhabited island of rocky ground and palm trees and shrubs is part of an atoll of the Bahamas that is much closer to Cuba and monitored by the U.S. Coast Guard for strandings of refugees trying to reach U.S. soil. Lt. Riley Beecher, a Coast Guard pilot, said that while on a routine mission they saw on Monday what looked like flags waving in the usually brown and light green topography. The Coast Guard initially dropped some water and a radio to be able to communicate. Later on Monday, another crew flew back to bring more supplies. One of the pilots who flew on the second trip, Lt. Justin Dougherty, said the woman was low on blood sugar and was given packets to get her levels back to normal. Dougherty said the stranded travelers said the coconuts kept them hydrated and they also ate the meat of conchs and rats. It could have been worse had they not found palm trees or had it been hotter. They were rescued on Tuesday morning and taken to the Lower Keys Medical Center with no serious injuries. Clients are reminded: (i) to check the terms of their licence …
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