LOOKING more like rock stars than castaways, Tokelau's lost boys headed home with a clear explanation for their 50 days adrift.

"We were just drunk," 14-year-old Etueni Nasau said.

"We had heaps of petrol but we went the wrong way."

Etueni and his 15-year-old cousins Samu Pelesa and Filo Filo told of their extraordinary ordeal while returning to Samoa on Flight 253 from Nadi, Fiji.

Just days earlier, the teens had been seen by fishing trawler San Nikanu in a remote part of the Pacific Ocean. They were naked, weak, and their skin was covered in rashes and ulcerated from sunburn.

But, while they looked thin, they are healthy and wore new clothes, and gelled hair.

They giggled when asked about rumours within their community that they were love-struck teenagers following their hearts across the ocean.

"Nah man, there was no girl. We just wanted more vodka so we made a plan," Etueni said.

The plan was made in the early hours of October 5.

They nicked a bottle of vodka from Filo's father, Tamu, and began to drink.

Out of sight from the villagers, the boys emptied the bottle and decided they would find more on the neighbouring atoll of Nokononu.

After stealing a boat from Samu's uncle, they set off.

Etueni said it was about three days before the boat ran out of petrol. "We didn't know where we were going, we were just going," he said.

The weather was at times terrible, and huge waves pounded their boat, forcing them to cling to the sides.

They covered themselves with a tarpaulin, which they also used to catch rainwater. Coconuts aboard the dinghy soon ran out.

Samu said they were about halfway into their journey when he caught a seagull that landed on the side of the boat. He snapped its neck and they ate it raw.

The trio were reunited with their uncle, Kuresa Nasau, the village chief. He will accompany them on their way home to Atafu, where they will thank villagers who prayed for their safe return.

Originally published as Fifty days lost at sea ... over vodka