Three teenage boys have been found alive 50 days after their boat was lost in the Pacific Ocean.

Samuel Perez and Filo Filo, both 15 and Edward Nasau, 14, (all pictured above) went missing on October 5 from the Atafu atoll in the New Zealand-administered Tokelau Islands.

They drifted 800 miles, before they were discovered northeast of Fiji.

After a search by the New Zealand air force they were assumed dead and a memorial service was held for them.

But they managed to survive on coconuts, water they trapped on a tarpaulin and a seabird they caught, until a fishing boat spotted them.

They are now making their way to hospital to be treated for severe sunburn.

The fishing boat’s first mate, Tai Fredricsen told the BBC: ‘We drew up next to them and we asked if they needed any help and their reply was a very ecstatic “yes”.

‘We immediately deployed our rescue craft and got them straight on board and administered basic first aid.’

Mr Fredricsen said that their supply of coconuts on board ran out after two days.

He said: ‘They had a period when they were only drinking fresh water, which they were capturing during the night in a tarpaulin.

‘They also told me that two weeks prior to us rescuing them, they were able to catch a sea bird which was very lucky for them.

‘They did mention that during the last two days they had started drinking salt water, which could have been disastrous for them.’

Mr Fredricsen said the boys were in good shape considering their time in the tropical sun and the under-nourishment.

‘They’ve got a lot of gusto, a lot of strong mental spirit. Physically they are very disturbing but mentally they are very strong,’ he said.

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