The Coast Guard Wednesday rescued three fishermen who were adrift for five days without food 80 miles off Tarawa Atoll in the Central Pacific.

The men left Tarawa last Friday in a 17-foot boat on a fishing trip when they experienced engine trouble five miles out. Two of them are 20 years old and the third is 30.

They tried to break off parts of the boat to use as oars to paddle back to shore.

Tarawa authorities began a search Friday after they were reported missing. The U.S. Embassy in Fiji Monday requested help from the Coast Guard.