They save three Cubans who survived the coconut for a month on a desert island

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida – United States Coast Guard rescues two Cuban men and woman who were stranded for 33 days on a desert island near the Florida Keys, and that they managed to survive on a forced diet of coconuts, mollusks and even rats.

The Cubans found themselves stranded on a deserted Bahamian island between Key West and Cuba, tweeted the Coast Guard, who spotted the castaways from a helicopter, in another incident of the hundreds linked to Cuban rafters attempting for decades to leave the island. in search of the American dream.

The crew was on a routine patrol last Monday when they spotted flags and a huge cross that the Cubans had placed on the island, pilot Mike Allert said. Guards flew over Anguilla Cay to investigate further and another crew returned to the island to bring water, food and a radio to establish communication.

On Tuesday, another helicopter returned and picked up the Cubans, who told the crew their raft sank in rough waters and they were able to swim to the island. They survived on coconuts, mollusks and rats.

“Because our crews diligently carried out routine patrols, we were able to detect people in distress and respond,” said Sean Connet, commander of the Coast Guard.

“It was a very complex operation that involved assets and crews from different units, but with good communication and coordination between the command centers and the pilots, we were able to bring everyone safely to a medical center. before the situation worsens. ” He added.

As of yet, it’s unclear if they were stranded in an attempt to reach the United States or if they just got lost while sailing.Coast Guard Officer Brandon Murray told the newspaper South Florida Sun Sentinel.

According to local authorities, the three survivors were showing signs of dehydration and fatigue, so they were immediately transferred to the Lower Keys Medical Center in Key West. However, the Cubans were not seriously injured.

“I don’t remember any other case where we saved people who spent more than a month on a desert island, this is something new to me”Murray added.

Cientos de cubanos, luego de la derogación de la ley Pies Secos-Pies Mojados por el expresidente Barack Obama, que buscan dejar la isla cambiaron su ruta directa hacia el estrecho de Florida, para llegar vía terrestrial a algún punto de la frontera de México con United States.

AP Agency

THE NATION

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