HONOLULU: Officials say three men who had been missing for three days were rescued Thursday from a deserted Pacific island after a US Navy plane spotted a gigantic “help” spelled out with palm leaves.

US Coast Guard spokeswoman Melissa McKenzie said Saturday that the men were reported missing Tuesday by their families after they failed to show up at the island of Weno.

McKenzie says the men were traveling in a skiff between two Micronesian islands when they were overtaken by a wave.

The men reported their vessel was capsized by a large wave a few hours after their departure on April 4, and spent the night swimming until they arrived at Fandadik Island, approximately four nautical miles from Pulap where they set off.

She says they were all wearing life jackets and were able to swim to the deserted island. Two hours after being located, the men were picked up by a local small boat and taken to a hospital.

-AP