Palm Sunday

 With Hilde Osland:

People: Mariners Rescued from Pacific Atoll After Spelling ‘Help’ with Palm Leaves: ‘Crucial Factor in Their Discovery’

Three mariners who were left stranded on an atoll in Micronesia for over a week were rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard — and it was all thanks to them spelling out the word “help” in the sand.

The U.S. Coast Guard announced in a press release on April 9 that the three mariners, all men in their 40s, were successfully located on the Pikelot Atoll on Apr. 7 by a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft that had been scouring the area.

"In a remarkable testament to their will to be found, the mariners spelled out 'HELP' on the beach using palm leaves, a crucial factor in their discovery,” Lt. Chelsea Garcia, the search and rescue mission coordinator, said in a statement. “This act of ingenuity was pivotal in guiding rescue efforts directly to their location," she added.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Super Extra Double-Scoop Post-Tax Day Leather Edition up for your digital amusement at The Other McCain.