A 61-year-old Peruvian fisherman, Máximo Napa Castro, was found alive after spending 95 days adrift at sea. He had set out from the port of Marcona on December 7 to catch roe but his engine broke down just over two weeks later. With limited food and no radio beacon, Castro rationed his supplies and collected rainwater to survive.
Despite the dire circumstances, Castro refused to give up hope. He talked to God, prayed for help, and even drank turtle blood to quench his thirst. He ate cockroaches, birds, and other animals that he found at sea. His family had given up hope of finding him alive but never lost faith that he would return.
Castro was spotted by the crew of an Ecuadorian tuna boat on March 12, hundreds of miles off the Peruvian coast. He was taken to a Peruvian Coast Guard vessel by helicopter and received medical attention. After being reunited with his family, Castro expressed gratitude for his survival, saying he had clung to hope and thought about his mother and two-month-old granddaughter every day.
Castro’s journey has been described as a miracle, and his family is overjoyed to have him home safe. His mother said she had prayed that God would bring her son back to her, even if it was just to see him. The story of Máximo Napa Castro serves as a testament to the human spirit’s ability to persevere in the face of adversity.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/17/world/americas/peruvian-fisherman-95-days-lost-at-sea.html