In an extraordinary tale of survival, five fishermen were rescued after spending 55 days adrift in the Pacific Ocean. The group, comprising three Peruvians and two Colombians, was discovered by an Ecuadorian tuna boat named Aldo near the Galapagos Islands on May 7. They had been missing since mid-March when their journey from Pucusana Bay, near Lima, was hampered by a malfunction in their boat’s alternator just two days into their expedition, leading to failures in communication and navigation systems.
Ecuadorian navy Frigate Captain Maria Fares reported that the fishermen lost all power on board, making it impossible for them to operate critical equipment. They endured severe hardships during their ordeal, resorting to drinking rusted water extracted from the engine and capturing fish whenever they had the opportunity, which they would then parboil for sustenance. In addition, they managed to drink rainwater and even seawater in a desperate bid to survive.
The men have since been found in stable condition and are currently receiving assistance from the Ecuadorian navy, which is collaborating with both local and international authorities to facilitate their journey home. Notably, their survival echoes a similar incident in which another fisherman had been rescued earlier in March after spending time adrift before being brought back to Lima to reunite with his family.
This remarkable rescue sheds light on the potential dangers faced by fishermen at sea and highlights the resilience of these individuals in the face of adversity.