Peruvian Fisherman Rescued After 95 Days Lost at Sea
After spending 95 days adrift in the Pacific Ocean, Peruvian fisherman Maximo Napa is finally returning home. Stranded at sea, he survived by eating roaches, birds, and sea turtles until he was rescued.
A Fishing Trip Gone Wrong
Napa set out on a fishing trip from Marcona, a coastal town in southern Peru, on December 7. He carried supplies for a two-week journey, but just 10 days in, stormy weather pushed his boat off course, leaving him lost in the vast ocean.
His family launched a search operation, and despite efforts by Peru’s maritime patrols, there was no sign of him. On Wednesday, an Ecuadorian fishing patrol finally discovered him—680 miles off the Ecuadorian coast. Napa was found in a critical condition, suffering from severe dehydration.
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Surviving Against the Odds
“I did not want to die,” Napa told Reuters after reuniting with his brother in Paita, near the Ecuador-Peru border. He explained that he collected rainwater to stay hydrated and spent the last 15 days without food.
Thinking about his family, especially his two-month-old granddaughter, kept him going. “I thought about my mother every day. I’m thankful to God for giving me a second chance,” he said.
A Mother’s Unwavering Faith
Napa’s mother, Elena Castro, admitted that while some relatives remained hopeful, she had begun to lose faith. “I told the Lord, ‘Whether he’s alive or dead, just bring him back to me, even if it’s just to see him,’” she shared with TV Peru. However, her daughters never gave up, constantly reassuring her that he would return.
Now back on land, Napa is undergoing medical check-ups in Paita before traveling south to Lima to reunite with the rest of his family
