Miracle at Sea: Teens Rescued From Pacific Make It to Land

Nov. 27, 2010— -- The three Pacific island teenagers rescued this week after 50 days adrift at sea in a small boat have landed in Fiji, where they are receiving medical attention.

Other than looking thin and reportedly suffering from dehydration, the teenagers appeared in good health. They smiled and waved for the cameras that were awaiting for them in Suva, the Fijian capital where they were taken by the tuna vessel that rescued them.

The three teens -- Edward Nasau, 14, and 15-year-olds Samu Perez and Filo Filo -- were found Wednesday adrift in their small aluminum boat northeast of Fiji, the BBC reported.

"I thank God for keeping us alive all this while, while were drifting out in open sea," Nasau, 14, told The Associated Press. "We prayed every day that someone will find us and rescue us."

Natives of the Tokelau Islands, a New Zealand territory in the south Pacific, the teenagers had been presumed dead. At least one of their families had even held a memorial service for him.

They told the tuna vessel operators that they survived on nothing but coconuts, water trapped by a tarpaulin and a seabird that landed on their boat.

In an interview with Radio New Zealand, Tai Fredricsen, first mate of San Nikunau, the tuna vessel that spotted the teens, said they spent the time on his ship listening to music and watching cartoons.

"In the physical sense they looked very physically depleted," Fredricsen told Radio New Zealand but said their spirits were high as they repeatedly thanked their rescuers.

Samu Perez's aunt told the BBC after her nephew's rescue that the boy's family had already held a memorial service for him.

"My mum, she cried very day and every night," Fekei said. "We believed he was still alive anyway. We thought that God was still with them."

The woman told the BBC that the teens may have been trying to sail to Australia or the United States. She has spoken by phone with Perez, she told the BBC, and said he was asking for forgiveness.

"I think they did learn a big lesson," she said.