Maximo Napa Castro, a 61-year-old Peruvian fisherman, was rescued after being adrift at sea for 95 days following a fishing trip gone awry. He survived on rainwater and scavenged food. After being located by an Ecuadorian patrol boat, he was reunited with his family in Paita, Peru.
A 61-year-old Peruvian fisherman named Maximo Napa Castro was rescued after spending nearly 100 days adrift at sea in the Pacific Ocean. His intended two-week fishing trip began on December 7 from Marcona, Peru, but strong winds later displaced his vessel, leaving him with scant resources. Despite an extensive search by the Peruvian Coast Guard, they were unable to locate him until an Ecuadorian patrol boat found him approximately 1,094 kilometers from shore, in critical condition.
Upon his rescue, Castro attributed his survival to rainwater and the occasional fish he was able to catch. He revealed his thoughts of family, particularly his mother and two-month-old granddaughter, inspired him to endure. “It was 95 days. I ate roaches, birds, the last thing I ate was turtles,” Castro recounted, expressing his emotional struggle to survive.
After the media addressed him, Castro received medical treatment in Paita, Peru. He later reunited with his daughter at Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima, where she brought a bottle of pisco, Peru’s national beverage, to celebrate his return. Leyla Torres Napa, Castro’s niece, remarked that the family eagerly anticipates celebrating his birthday, which he missed while at sea.
The incredible story of Maximo Napa Castro highlights human resilience in the face of dire circumstances. His survival for 95 days at sea, fueled by thoughts of family and resourcefulness, culminated in a heartwarming reunion with loved ones. The family’s planned birthday celebration signifies hope and gratitude following a harrowing ordeal.
Original Source: globalnews.ca