FISHERMAN EXPLAINS THE GRUESOME WAYS HE HAD TO STAY ALIVE FOR 95 DAYS LOST AT SEA
A fisherman has spoken out about the terrible reality of what he had to do to survive after becoming adrift at sea for 95 days. On December 7, 2024, Máximo Napa Castro left the Peruvian coastal hamlet of Marcona to organize his two-week fishing trip. However, the 61-year-old found himself in the Pacific Ocean after inclement weather caused his yacht to veer off course.
"The entire family is in agony every day. His daughter posted on Facebook earlier this month, "We never imagined we would find ourselves in this predicament, I wouldn't wish it on anyone, and we won't give up hope, Dad, of finding you." On March 11, 2025, Castro was eventually located 680 miles offshore. Before being transferred to the Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes Hospital in Paita to recuperate, the fisherman was described as "heavily dehydrated and in a grave state."
"I said I didn't want to die for my mother," Castro told CNN. "A few months ago, my granddaughter was born. I waited for her. I thought about my mother every day."
Since he had only brought enough food for two weeks, he had to gather rainwater on the boat to survive. Castro claimed to have "eating insects, birds, the last thing I ate was turtles," according to Reuters. "I told the Lord, whether he's alive or not, please bring him back to me, even if it's just to see him," Elena Castro, his mother, told TV Peru. However, my daughters' faith remained unwavering. "Mom, he'll return, he'll return," they insisted repeatedly.
Inés Napa Torres, Napa's daughter, expressed gratitude to the Ecuadorian fishermen who saved her father's life. She posted on Facebook, saying, "Thank you, Ecuadorian brothers, for rescuing my dad Gatón, God bless you".
"My father's discovery is a miracle," she continued on RPP Radio. "As a family, we never lost hope that we would find him." Castro told RPP that he was looking forward to returning to his regular life, saying, "Today I ate rice with chicken and beans. I had to eat just one plate even though I wanted to consume five.”
“My stomach still needs to settle. My mom is going to make me carapulcra, rice with chicken, and sopa seca. All I want is to hug my mom. [The doctors] have told me I'm fine; I've always eaten well,” he added.
