Islanders found after 11 days

By JAYNE SAFIHAO
FIVE Manam islanders missing at sea for the past 11 days yesterday haved arrived safely aboard a rescue vessel in Madang.
They told of how they survived only on water and prayers.
The five islanders, who looked tanned and surprisingly fit despite their ordeal at sea, said they owed their lives to God.
One of the survivors, John Kauke, said they were nearing Kadawar Island in East Sepik, when the dinghy they were in ran out of fuel.
“We were just a kilometre away. We could see the island when we encountered this problem but the strong current carried us out,” he said.
“For 10 days we were without food. But the Lord was good and provided water during two rainy spells we had.
“We then drank sea water from empty fuel containers and that tasted like petrol,” he said.
Asked what kept their spirit up, John said: “Prayers.”
“Being an ex-Patrician Brother for five years in Aitape, the idea of prayer was imparted to the others immediately. This became our every turning point,” he said.
A fishing vessel, Apple Blossom, belonging to the Frabelle Fishing fleet, picked the five islanders south of Manus and north of Long Island at 5am.
“We were in the middle of praying when suddenly we saw this light approaching in the distance,” Kauke said.
“At that moment not just one but everyone said, ‘It is coming for us’ and it sure did.”
After coming ashore they were taken to the hospital for a medical check before going home  to their families.
Last Friday an aerial search was conducted by national disaster officials as far as Long Island but that was later called off.
The latest sea drama puts the onus now on all coastal provincial administrations to make it a priority to have an appropriate structure and budgetary allocation in place to implement the much talked about Small Craft Act.
The purpose of the Act is to provide for the safety of passengers and crew members in the event of a mishap.