3 people stranded on uninhabited Bahamas island for 33 days rescued
Three people believed to be stranded on an uninhabited island in the Bahamas for over 30 days, surviving on conch shells and rats, were rescued Tuesday, the U.S. Coast Guard said.
The Cuban nationals had been reportedly stranded on Anguilla Cay for 33 days, officials said.
A U.S. Coast Guard Clearwater helicopter hoisted the two men and woman off the island. The rescue took about 30 minutes, Mike Allert, the aircraft commander on the helicopter, told ABC News.
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The three were then brought to the Lower Keys Medical Center in Key West, Florida, with no reported injuries, officials said. They did show signs of dehydration and fatigue, Allert said, though he noted that their conditions were good considering how long they were stranded.
They were in dire straits due to a lack of fresh water on the island, Allert said.
Earlier on Tuesday, the U.S. Coast Guard Southeast shared a video on social media of a Miami aircrew dropping food, water and a radio to the stranded people. Officials announced shortly before 6 p.m. ET that the rescue was successful.
#BreakingNews @USCG is 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. More to follow.#D7 #Ready #Relevant #Responsive #searchandrescue #USCG pic.twitter.com/D263ptTarz
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) February 9, 2021
A Coast Guard crew spotted the three people during a routine patrol of the area on Monday, but the rescue was delayed until Tuesday due to the weather, Allert said.
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It is unclear how they ended up on the island, he said.
ABC News' Henderson Hewes and Rachel Katz contributed to this report.
3 people stranded on uninhabited Bahamas island for 33 days rescued originally appeared on abcnews.go.com