Peruvian Fisherman Rescued After 95 Days Adrift In The Pacific.
A Peruvian fisherman who survived 95 days lost at sea by eating turtles, birds, and cockroaches has been rescued and reunited with his family.
Maximo Napa Castro, 61, set off on 7 December for what was meant to be a two-week fishing trip from the coastal town of Marcona, southern Peru. However, just ten days into his journey, a storm blew his boat off course, leaving him adrift with dwindling supplies.
Despite extensive search efforts by his family and Peru’s maritime patrols, he remained lost at sea for over three months. It was only on Wednesday that the Ecuadorian patrol vessel Don F discovered him 1,094km (680 miles) from the coast. Severely dehydrated and in critical condition, he was immediately given medical assistance.
A Fight for Survival
Mr Castro survived by catching rainwater in his boat and consuming whatever he could find. Speaking after his rescue, he described how he ate cockroaches and birds before resorting to sea turtles. The last 15 days of his ordeal were spent without any food.
Thinking of his family, especially his two-month-old granddaughter, gave him the strength to endure, he said. “I thought about my mother every day. I’m thankful to God for giving me a second chance.”
His mother, Elena, admitted she had begun to lose hope, even as relatives remained optimistic during the search.
Emotional Homecoming
Following his rescue, Mr Castro was taken to Paita for a medical assessment before being flown to the Peruvian capital, Lima. At Jorge Chávez International Airport, he was welcomed in an emotional reunion with his daughter, Inés Napa, who presented him with a bottle of pisco, Peru’s national drink.
In his home district of San Andrés, Ica, neighbours and relatives decorated the streets in celebration. His niece, Leyla Torres Napa, revealed that the family planned a special celebration for his birthday, which passed while he was lost at sea.
“The day of his birth was unique because all he had to eat was a small cookie. For us, he has been reborn, and we want to celebrate.”
A Rare Survival Story
Maximo Napa Castro’s story is one of remarkable resilience, joining the ranks of others who have endured long periods at sea.
In 2023, Russian sailor Mikhail Pichugin was rescued after spending more than two months adrift in the Sea of Okhotsk. Similarly, Salvadoran fisherman José Salvador Alvarenga survived an extraordinary 14-month ordeal, drifting from Mexico’s coast to the Marshall Islands between 2012 and 2014.
For Mr Castro, however, the focus is now on recovery and cherishing his second chance at life with his family.
