Seven men who set out from Papua New Guinea to a nearby island have been found after drifting around in the Pacific Ocean for two months. A helicopter from a United States ship discovered the men last Sunday.

Two of the men died shortly after being rescued and the other five are being treated for severe sunstroke. All the men were suffering from the effects of hunger.

The group set off on 14 September on what should have been an easy day's trip from Tabar Island to Lihir Island 50 kilometres away. They ran out of fuel on the way and started drifting.

It is not known how the men managed to survive for so long without food and water. They say they were ignored by passing fishing vessels.

photo: Pacific Ocean (flickr/Storm Crypt)