Ingenious desalting still saves 12 sailors on reef
Twelve Polynesian crew members survived 117 aboard the Tonga cutter Thaikaepan after three months on Minerva reef. They built a seawater still using a single match to distill fresh water, guarded constantly, while three died and two rafted toward Fiji for help. Survivors were brought to Suva in better condition, with doctors reporting recovery.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Suva
Fiji Islands
Southeast Pacific
Veerutu Pahulu
Tonga
Thaikaepan
Auckland
New Zealand
Minerva Reef
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