Ship picks up drifting Tokelauans

Three teenagers drifting in a small boat near the Tokelau Islands have been rescued after a searching air force Orion found them yesterday.

The trio were rescued by the launch MV Tokelau last night as the Orion circled overhead.

The three teenagers, aged between 13 and 15, were spotted in a four-metre aluminium boat shortly before 4pm (NZ time) yesterday about 80 nautical miles west-southwest off Atafu Atoll.

They were reported to be in good health and the rescue went smoothly.

They were found as the Orion was about to complete a search of nearly 20,000 square miles of ocean.

The Orion crew dropped a marker beacon near the boat and returned to Suva to refuel before heading back to the search area to stay with the dinghy until the three were rescued.

- NZPA