After spending 95 days lost at sea, Peruvian fisherman Maximo Napa is finally returning home to his family. Stranded in the Pacific Ocean, Napa survived by eating roaches, birds, and sea turtles until he was rescued.
Napa had set out on a fishing trip from Marcona, a coastal town in southern Peru, on December 7. He carried provisions for a two-week journey, but just 10 days in, stormy weather pushed his boat off course, leaving him adrift in the vast ocean.
His family launched a search operation, but despite efforts by Peru’s maritime patrols, there was no trace of him until an Ecuadorian fishing patrol discovered him 680 miles off the Ecuadorian coast on Wednesday. Napa was found in a critical condition, suffering from severe dehydration.
Survival against 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 survived the last 15 days without food.
Thinking about his family, including 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.
Mother's unwavering faith
Napa’s mother, Elena Castro, revealed 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 further medical check-ups in Paita before traveling south to Lima to reunite with the rest of his family.
