Three Tokelauan Boys drifted at sea for 61 days arrived in Fiji

 26 NOVEMBER 2010 SUVA (PACNEWS) ----- Three Tokelauans adrift at sea for 61 days arrived in Suva late Friday on board the Fiji naval boat Kikau.
 
Officials from the New Zealand Embassy were at the Stanley Brown base in Suva to receive the three boys, who were visibly weak.
 
Fijian journalists who attempted to talk to the three teenagers weren’t allowed to do because of their medical condition.
 
The Three teenagers survived 61days adrift in a tiny boat in the South Pacific by drinking rainwater and eating raw fish and a seabird before being rescued by a passing trawler.
 
The trio — Samuel Pelesa and Filo Filo, both 15, and Edward Nasau, 14 — had been given up for dead on their coral atoll in the Tokelau islands.
 
On Wednesday, the tuna boat San Nikuna spotted a small dinghy bobbing in the open sea northeast of Fiji, with three people aboard waving frantically
 
“The San Nukunau was fishing in Tuvalu on its way back to New Zealand when it spotted the three teenagers. The vessel picked them since it was en route to New Zealand. They had to come to the nearest medical facility in Fiji, said Fiji Navy commander, Commander Francis Kean.
 
“We dispatched a patrol boat as soon as it came to our notice that there were three survivors out there an in urgent need of medical attention.
 
Commander Kean said the boys - aged 14 and 15 - went missing from Atafu Atoll in a small aluminium boat on 24 September.
 
“These three young teenagers survived the 61 days ordeal of drifting in the open sea. 
 
“They suffered from severe dehydration, as you notice when they got off some of them were still weak on their legs.
“It’s still not the right time to have anything solid, their bodies are rejecting food, hence the need to pump them fluid. I thank got God for giving these three teenagers another chance, Commander Kean said 
 
Commander Kean said despite the costs incurred saving the lives of the three teenagers was more important.
 
“The cost is nothing compared to saving people’s lives. That’s the business we are in as part of the search and rescue role that is bestowed upon us. It is always a joy to see in the eyes of the naval officers when they come back from a successful search and rescue mission.
 
Commander also warned Pacific Islanders to take necessary precaution when they venture out at sea.
 
“Ensure that you have enough fuel, have the necessary tools to ensure that when you venture out and you come back safely,” Commander Kean said.
 
The three boys are now admitted at Suva’s Colonial War memorial hospital ...PNS (ENDS)