Photo: Alex Walker / Moment / Getty Images
A Peruvian fisherman, Maximo Napa Castro, was rescued after surviving 95 days lost in the Pacific Ocean. The 61-year-old set out on a two-week fishing trip from Marcona, Peru, on December 7, but a storm blew his boat off course after 10 days, leaving him adrift. Despite efforts by Peru's maritime patrols, he remained missing until an Ecuadorian patrol vessel found him 680 miles from the coast last week,
Napa Castro endured the ordeal by collecting rainwater and consuming whatever he could find, including cockroaches, birds, and sea turtles. He spent the last 15 days without food. Thinking of his family, especially his two-month-old granddaughter, gave him strength to survive. He expressed gratitude, saying, "I thought about my mother every day. I'm thankful to God for giving me a second chance."
After his rescue, Napa Castro was taken to Paita, near the Ecuadorian border, for medical evaluation before being flown to Lima. At Jorge Chávez International Airport, he was emotionally reunited with his daughter, Inés Napa, who greeted him with Peru's national drink, pisco. His home district of San Andrés celebrated his return, decorating the streets in his honor. His niece, Leyla Torres Napa, emphasized the importance of celebrating his birthday, which passed while he was lost at sea, as a symbol of his rebirth.
