Stranded Fishermen Rescued After 55 Days at Sea

The Ecuadorian Navy reported that five fishermen, who had drifted at sea for 55 days, reached the Galapagos port after being rescued by tuna boats. This group included three Peruvians and two Colombians, who had been missing since mid-March and were discovered on May 7th aboard an Ecuadorian vessel named Aldo.

According to the Navy, the fishermen had damaged their boat’s alternator just two days after departing from Pucusana Bay, located south of Lima, Peru’s capital. Captain Maria Fales of the Ecuadorian naval frigate provided additional details, noting that the vessel was lacking key components, which led to the failure. “They didn’t have the starters, lights—everything the batteries generated was gone,” she explained. To survive, they had to “recover the rusty water from the engine.” Additionally, as fish swam by, they tried to catch and eat them, along with relying on rainwater and seawater for hydration.

The fishermen returned in stable condition, and the Navy worked alongside local and international authorities to facilitate their safe return to their home countries. Earlier this year, another Peruvian fisherman, aged 61, survived 95 days adrift in the ocean before being rescued by an Ecuadorian ship and reunited with his family in mid-March.