QUITO (ECUADOR): In a remarkable story of survival and endurance, five fishermen from Peru and Colombia were rescued after drifting for 55 days in the Pacific Ocean.
The men were found alive by an Ecuadorian vessel on May 7, after being reported missing since mid-March.
According to a statement released by the Ecuadorian Navy, the fishermen set out from Pucusana, a coastal region in Peru. Two days into their journey, their boat’s generator failed, cutting off communication and disabling their navigation equipment. With no way to call for help or steer their vessel, the group was left at the mercy of the ocean.
Stranded with limited supplies, the fishermen survived by catching fish, collecting rainwater, and, in times of desperation, drinking small amounts of seawater. “They had no light or equipment to repair the battery. They were forced to bail out seawater manually to stay afloat,” a Navy spokesperson said.
The rescued men – three Peruvians and two Colombians – are now reported to be in stable condition. Ecuadorian authorities are working with officials in Peru and Colombia to arrange their safe return home.
This incident comes just months after a similar case involving 61-year-old Peruvian fisherman Maximo Napa Castro, who was rescued in March 2025 after spending 95 days lost at sea. He survived by eating birds, insects, and turtles, and drinking rainwater.
Both stories highlight the extreme resilience and will to survive in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.
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