Peruvian Fisherman Rescued After 95-Day Survival Odyssey at Sea

After a harrowing 95 days adrift in the Pacific Ocean, Peruvian fisherman Maximo Napa Castro was rescued by the Ecuadorian patrol. His survival tactics including consuming turtles and rainwater led him to a critical but emotional reunion with his family, as the nation celebrates his remarkable second chance at life.

Maximo Napa Castro, a 61-year-old Peruvian fisherman, has been rescued after spending 95 harrowing days lost at sea in the Pacific Ocean. His ordeal began on December 7 when he set out from Marcona for a two-week fishing trip. However, a violent storm changed his course, leaving him stranded with limited food and water supplies.

After a search launched by his family yielded no results, hope began to fade until the Ecuadorian patrol vessel Don F discovered him 1,094 kilometers (680 miles) offshore. Found in a critical condition, he had survived primarily by harvesting rainwater and consuming whatever wildlife he could catch, including birds and, ultimately, sea turtles. His last 15 days were spent without food.

In an emotional moment following his rescue, Napa expressed gratitude for the thoughts of his family—particularly his two-month-old granddaughter and mother, Elena—which kept him motivated to survive. Despite the despair over his disappearance, his mother remained hopeful throughout the search.

Upon arrival in Paita for medical evaluation, he was later flown to Lima, where a poignant reunion unfolded with his daughter, Inés Napa. Surrounded by the media, she greeted him with Peru's iconic drink, pisco. Back in his home district of San Andrés, community members decorated streets to celebrate his return, with his niece Leyla stating that his birthday, which fell during his sea ordeal, would be marked with a special family gathering, acknowledging his rebirth.

Napa's remarkable survival journey parallels other extraordinary cases of survival at sea. Notably, Russian Mikhail Pichugin was rescued after over two months adrift, and Salvadoran fisherman José Salvador Alvarenga survived an astounding 14 months at sea in a similar scenario.