Stranded

A third man, who was in the boat when it left Marshall Islands on 2 April, reportedly jumped into the sea 17 days into the 42-day open ocean drift.

Earlier this week, the Micronesian government's patrol vessel transported the two men from isolated Namoluk Atoll to Weno for medical check ups.

The two, Godfrey Capelle and Benjamin Thomas, washed up at Namoluk on 14 May, 42 days after their 20-foot outboard engine boat washed out of Kwajalein Atoll to begin its westward drift.

Restrictions imposed by the Samoan government mean there are no commercial flights in or out of the country.

Elisapeta Westerlund went to Samoa for her grandfather's funeral last month.

She went to the airport before flights stopped to try to book a seat to get home but was turned away and has been asking the New Zealand High Commission in Apia for help since.

"My eldest daughter is the one who is still working, she is now the surrogate mother, she goes out when she can, gets the shopping done and makes sure the kids are fed," Westerlund said.