Two women who were lost at sea for almost five months have been rescued by the U.S. Navy, reports CNN. The women, from Hawaii, and their dogs were found drifting about 900 miles southeast of Japan.
Jennifer Appel and Tasha Fuiava had left Hawaii in the spring, bound for Tahiti. They ran into bad wether on May 30, which damaged their sailboat’s engine. From there, they strayed off course, according to the Navy and reported by CNN.
The Honolulu residents began sending out distress signals after two months. This was past the time they were estimated to arrive in Tahiti, CNN reports. Unfortunately, they were too far away from any other boats or stations to be heard.
The duo survived on a year’s worth of dried goods, CNN reports and had a water purifier.
“There is a true humility to wondering if today is your last day,” Appel said, according to CNN affiliate KGMB. “If tonight is your last night. If the storm that’s approaching is going to bring down the rig. But it’s the only thing you can do, so you do what you can with what you have. You have no other choice.”
They were rescued when a Taiwanese fishing vessel saw their boat and contacted the Coast Guard. The Navy released footage of the rescuers reaching the boat. The women blew them kisses, while the dogs, who were wearing life jackets, barked excitedly, reports CNN.
Their sailboat is currently adrift at sea because it was deemed unseaworthy.
“I’m grateful for their service to our country,” Appel said in a Navy statement, according to CNN. “They saved our lives. The pride and smiles we had when we saw [the US Navy] on the horizon was pure relief.”
The women were medically assessed and will stay on the USS Ashland until its next port of call, the Navy said, reports CNN.
Check out some images of the rescue below.
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