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Peruvian fisherman Máximo Napa Castro, 61, survived 3+ months lost at sea after severe weather. Rescued by an Ecuadorian vessel, he endured by eating insects and rainwater. He's now home.
A Peruvian fisherman, missing for over three months, has been found alive in the Pacific Ocean, Peru’s state news agency Andina reported on Saturday.
Máximo Napa Castro, 61, set sail on December 7 from Marcona, a coastal town in southern Peru. However, severe weather caused him to drift off course, leaving him lost at sea.
On March 11, an Ecuadorian fishing vessel discovered Napa Castro in waters off northern Peru. He was severely dehydrated and in critical condition, according to Andina.
In an emotional interview following his rescue, Napa Castro recounted his struggle for survival. He relied on rainwater for hydration and sustained himself by eating insects, birds, and a turtle. In the final 15 days before his rescue, he had nothing to eat, Reuters reported.
Determined to stay alive, he drew strength from thoughts of his family. "I told myself I couldn’t die for my mother’s sake. I have a granddaughter who is just a few months old, and I held on for her. Every day, I thought of my mother," he said.
His daughter, Inés Napa Torres, expressed deep gratitude to the Ecuadorian fishermen who saved him. "Thank you, Ecuadorian brothers, for rescuing my dad. God bless you," she wrote in a Facebook post.
For three months, Napa Castro’s family and fellow fishermen tirelessly searched for him. On March 3, his daughter shared their anguish in another Facebook post, writing, "Every day has been filled with anguish for our family. I understand my grandmother’s pain because, as a mother, I can imagine what she’s going through. We never thought we’d face this, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. Dad, we will never lose hope of finding you."
After receiving medical treatment at Hospital Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes in Paita, near Peru’s border with Ecuador, Napa Castro was discharged on Saturday, Ecuavisa, a CNN affiliate, reported.
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