US Coast Guard Rescues Cubans Stranded for Weeks on Deserted Island in Bahamas

Three Cuban nationals have been rescued from an uninhabited island in the Bahamas, after they were stranded there for nearly five weeks, the US Coast Guard has said.

This footage shows a coast guard team dropping food, water, and a radio to the trio on Anguilla Cay before they were rescued on February 9.

The coast guard said the two men and one woman were spotted waving a makeshift flag by a team on routine patrol.

They had been stranded for 33 days before a coast guard helicopter transported them to Lower Keys Medical Center in Florida, the coast guard said.

According to Miami news outlet WPLG, the people had become stranded after their boat capsized in rough waters.

They survived by eating conchs and rats, the outlet reported.

“Thanks to our aircrews diligently conducting routine patrols, we were able to spot people in distress and intervene,” said Sean Connett, command duty officer at Coast Guard Seventh District. “Thanks to good communication and coordination between command centers and pilots, we were able to safely get everyone to a medical facility before the situation could worsen.” Credit: @USCGSoutheast via Storyful