Three teenagers, who survived on raw seagull and fish, found alive after FIFTY DAYS adrift in tiny dinghy in Pacific Ocean

Fifty days after they went missing in their tiny dinghy, there seemed little hope of finding the three boys alive.

They had no food, no water and no experience of navigating the vast, empty waters of the South Pacific around their island home.

Air searches had failed to pick up any trace of them and a memorial service had already been held on Atafu Atoll, part of the New Zealand-administered Tokelau island group.

Safe: The teenagers rest on the tuna boat which rescued them. The boys were found north east of Fiji after drifting across nearly 1,000 miles of ocean



But their barely believable ordeal has ended happily thanks to the sharp-eyed crew of tuna boat who spotted them 500 miles out to sea.

Although very thin, parched and badly sunburned, 14-year-old Edward Nasau, Filo Filo and Samuel Perez, both 15, were in good health.

‘It’s an absolute miracle they were seen,’ said Tai Fredricsen, first mate of the tuna boat. ‘They were drifting in an area where ships generally

don’t go.’

They were found north east of Fiji and are expected to reach there later today.

The boys had lived off whatever fish they could catch and even ate a seagull unlucky enough to land on their boat.

A few rain squalls had provided some water but they had become so dehydrated they had started to drink from the sea.

Mr Fredricsen said this was the worst thing they could have done.

He added: ‘They asked me if it had been all right to eat the sea bird raw and I told them that was a good idea – better than the raw fish which would have added to their thirst.’

The boys had become lost at sea after attempting to row nearly 60 miles between two islands. When they were reported missing, New Zealand’s rescue co-cordination centre despatched two planes, soon followed by two vessels from Samoa.

They scoured an area of 10,000 square miles – not helped by the fact they had only the vaguest idea of where the boys were.

Neville Blakemore, a spokesman for the centre, said the search was called off after three days because there was so little chance the youngsters could have survived.

It was believed there was little or no safety equipment on the aluminium dinghy.

But Mr Fredricsen said the boys were in ‘pretty good shape’.

‘They were, of course, very badly sunburned because they were in the open during the day under the tropical sun.

‘But all they really needed was water, food and sunburn creams to help soothe their burns.

‘They are taking fluids orally, which is quite amazing considering how long they were without food. The boys are ecstatic to be rescued and they’re now in the cabin listening to music and watching cartoons.’

It is believed the boys, who had been in a boating competition, decided to row home because they were unable to find fuel for their outboard motor.