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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - Four men from St. Vincent & the Grenadines were rescued at sea Monday after drifting for as long as 12 days on a disabled powerboat, the U.S. Coast Guard reported.
In a statement, the Coast Guard said the four men had apparently been traveling in late August from a tiny Grenadines island to the small Caribbean country's main island of St. Vincent to pick up supplies when the outboard engine died on their 30-foot (9-meter) boat.
Some 12 days later, the Coast Guard and a St. Vincent-flagged freighter rescued them in rough waters south of Puerto Rico. They appeared to be in good health and were given blue Guard coveralls to wear and a hot meal.
"Knowing that the persons onboard the distressed vessel had been adrift for two weeks, the crew made sure they had clean clothes, blankets and a hot meal," said Lt. Nolan Cain, commanding officer of the Coast Guard cutter Farallon.
Guard spokesman Ricardo Castrodad said it was not immediately clear how the men survived during their ordeal or what kind of supplies were on the disabled boat.
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