Peruvian fisherman survives 95 days lost at sea
- Maximo Napa Castro, aged 61, went missing at sea for 95 days after setting off from Marcona, Peru.
- He survived by drinking rainwater and eating insects, birds, and a turtle, spending his final 15 days without food.
- Napa's return marks a joyous reunion with his family, highlighting the enduring hope amidst despair.
In a remarkable survival story, Maximo Napa Castro, a 61-year-old fisherman from Peru, found himself lost at sea for an astonishing 95 days. He departed from Marcona, a coastal town in southern Peru, on December 7, fully equipped for a two-week fishing expedition. However, just ten days into the journey, inclement weather forced him off course and left him adrift in the vast Pacific Ocean. Despite extensive search efforts launched by his family and local maritime authorities, Napa was not found until March 11, when an Ecuadorian fishing boat stumbled upon him approximately 680 miles off Peru's coast. Having survived in harrowing conditions, Napa faced severe dehydration and a life-threatening state upon his rescue. He recounted his struggle for survival that involved drinking rainwater collected on his boat and resorting to eating whatever food he could find, including insects, birds, and, ultimately, a turtle. Tragically, he had gone without solid food for the last 15 days of his ordeal. His determination not to succumb to despair kept him going as he focused on thoughts of his family, particularly his elderly mother and brand-new granddaughter. Napa’s rescue sparked relief and joy among his family, who had spent nearly three agonizing months searching for him. His daughter, Inés Napa Torres, expressed her gratitude to the Ecuadorian fishermen who rescued her father. She lauded them as 'brothers' and thanked them for their lifesaving efforts. Meanwhile, Napa’s mother, Elena Castro, admitted that even though her children maintained hope, she had begun to lose faith in her son’s return. After he was discovered, Napa received medical treatment at Hospital Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes in Paita, located near Peru's border with Ecuador. Despite being in critical condition due to dehydration, he was discharged from the hospital shortly thereafter, allowing him to return home. His harrowing story serves as a testament to human resilience and the primal will to survive, as he clung to hope and love for his family throughout his nightmarish experience at sea.