Fisherman Survives 95 Days Adrift in Pacific, Reunited with Family

After an extraordinary ordeal of 95 days adrift, Peruvian fisherman Maximo Napa Castro was rescued, having survived on turtles and rainwater, and swiftly united with his emotional family.

 

A 61-year-old Peruvian fisherman, Maximo Napa Castro, has made headlines after being rescued from the Pacific Ocean, where he had spent an incredible 95 days adrift. His life-saving diet consisted of sea turtles, birds, and remarkable tenacity as he waited for rescue. Maximo had embarked on a two-week fishing expedition from Marcona on December 7, only to find himself lost at sea when a storm veered him off course.

His family initiated search efforts, but maritime authorities could not locate him for a prolonged period. It was only on a recent Wednesday that the Ecuadorian patrol vessel Don F finally discovered him, approximately 1,094 kilometers (680 miles) from shore, in severely dehydrated conditions. Maximo resorted to capturing rainwater within his boat, while his food sources dwindled before he ultimately made the grave decision to consume turtles after exhausting all other options.

In an emotional reunion with his brother in Paita, Maximo expressed that thoughts of his family and particularly his two-month-old granddaughter kept him fighting for life. "I thought about my mother every day. I'm thankful to God for giving me a second chance,” he shared. Despite the family’s initial optimism, his mother Elena revealed she had begun to lose hope during his absence.

Following his rescue, Maximo received medical evaluation in Paita before journeying onward to Lima, where his daughter Inés Napa awaited him with joy and celebratory pisco, Peru’s traditional drink. In his hometown of San Andrés, neighbors adorned the streets in a celebration of his return, with plans to commemorate his belated birthday, as during his time adrift his sole meal consisted of a meager cookie.

Mirroring his harrowing experience, Maximo joins the ranks of other survivors such as Russian Mikhail Pichugin, who endured 67 days adrift, and José Salvador Alvarenga, who remarkably spent 14 months in the Pacific, showcasing the resilient spirit of individuals stranded by the ocean.