Fisherman found alive after more than 90 days lost at sea
(NewsNation) — A Peruvian fisherman who survived 94 days lost at sea in the Pacific Ocean has been reunited with his family.
Maximo Napa Castro, 61, set sail for a two-week fishing trip on Dec. 7 when, 10 days in, bad weather hit and took his boat off course. His family launched a search, but authorities couldn't locate him.
The Peruvian Navy announced on Facebook that Castro was found Wednesday by an Ecuadorian patrol vessel nearly 700 miles off the coast of a northern Peruvian town.
Castro was taken to a hospital in the city of Paita, where he was discharged Saturday.
During his time stranded at sea, Castro said he survived off of rainwater and eating cockroaches, turtles and birds. He spent his last 15 days without food.
Castro told local media thinking of his family while he was stranded gave him the strength to carry on.
"My mother is alive. I didn't want to die for my mother," Castro said. "I have a 2-month-old granddaughter; I clung to that."
Castro was flown to Lima after being discharged from the hospital and reunited with his family. His niece, Leyla Torres Napa, said the family was planning to celebrate his birthday, which passed while he was at sea.
"The day of his birth was unique because all that he could eat [while at sea] was a small cookie, so it is very important for us that we celebrate because, for us, he has been reborn," she said.