Panamanian Teenager Rescued After Being Adrift At Sea For 28 Days

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Teenager Rescued After Being Adrift At Sea For 28 Days In Small Boat

He survived on drinking rainwater and raw fish!

A teen has apparently survived 28 days adrift in the Pacific Ocean after going on a fishing trip with two friends, according to reports. Adrian Vasquez, who was rescued by the Ecuadorean navy on Sunday, said he stayed alive by drinking rainwater and eating raw fish, the BBC reported. Vasquez said neither of his friends survived, but that he had always held onto the hope he would be rescued. The 18-year-old was found drifting alone near the Galapagos Islands on his friends’ 10-foot fishing boat more than 600 miles from where they had set out. He was first found by a commerical fishing vessel then handed over to Ecuador’s coast guard. The trio had been missing since February 24.

The Associated Press reported the three were heading back to his home port of Rio Hato when the boat’s motor failed. The young Panamanian recounted his story to Hugo Espinosa, captain of the navy vessel, after being treated for malnutrition and severe dehydration. He recalled they had caught a lot of fish, and had a big jug of water. The AP quoted Espinosa as saying Vasquez had identifed his dead friends as Oropeces Betancourt, 24, and Fernano Osorio, 16. Osorio died on March 15, also apparently of dehydration, sunburn and heat stroke. After three days, Vasquez pushed his other friend’s body into the ocean, the AP said.

“When he was nearly dead, on March 19, it rained, and Vasquez was able to fill up with four gallons of water,” said Espinosa. He spent the next five days eating raw fish before being spotted by commercial fishermen working on a skiff from a mother ship, the Duarte V. Once aboard, Vasquez asked for a telephone so he could make two calls, the AP reported. The first was to his mother. The second was to the hotel manager to explain why he had missed so many days of work.

“He didn’t know what was happening. He was quiet, looking lost,” Espinosa said. Vasquez was flown on Monday to Guayaquil on the Ecuadorean mainland before flying to Panama City on Tuesday where he was greeted by a crowd including family and friends. The AP report said the teenager shed some tears as his relatives hugged him but he didn’t talk to reporters.

Glad to hear he’s alive and well…that’s crazy being lost at sea for28 days..

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