Palm Fronds Spelling "Help" And A Fire Prevent An Extended Gilligan's Island Stay On Uninhabited Island

Three guys marooned on an uninhabited Pacifici island spelled
the word "Help" in palm fronds on the beach, which
helped lead to their rescue.  

Old farts like me remember the theme song from the 1960s television show "Gilligan's Island" in which a boat went out on a "three hour tour" and the people on the boat ended up stranded on an "uncharted desert isle."

That comedy adventure lasted years.

In real life last week, a boat went out on a "three hour tour" and its occupants ended up marooned, shipwrecked on an uninhabited island in the Pacific Ocean.

Their boat capsized and the three men, wearing life vests, swam two miles to the island last week.

For these guys, the  adventure didn't last years, like on Gilligan's Island.  Still, they were there for three days.

The three men stuck on the island spelled out the word "Help" with palm fronds on the beach.

Nice idea, and it probably would have gotten the found eventually, but the men also set a fire, which enabled U.S. Coast Guard and other searchers in airplanes to spot them. It also helped that those life vests the guys had were flourescent orange.

When a U.S. Navy plane flew over,  the guys waved those bright orange vests next to their "Help" sign.

It all worked.

Our castaways were quickly rescued, and they're in good health.

When Coast Guard spokesman Lt. William White announced the good news about the rescue, they played the "Gilligan's Island" theme song for the press that was gathered there.