Fisherman survives in Pacific Ocean for 95 days on roaches, turtles
- 16 Mar 2025
A Peruvian fisherman who spent 95 days lost in the Pacific Ocean, eating roaches, birds and sea turtles to survive, is returning home to his family.
Maximo Napa, 61, was rescued in his small fishing boat on Tuesday after being spotted by an Ecuadoran vessel off the coast of Chimbote in northern Peru. He told local media in a tearful interview that he survived at sea by eating cockroaches, birds and a turtle.
Napa had set off for a fishing trip from Marcona, a town on the southern Peruvian coast, on Dec.7. He packed food for a two week trip but ten days in, stormy weather threw his boat off course and he ended up adrift in the Pacific Ocean.
His family launched a search but Peru's maritime patrols were unable to locate him until Wednesday, when an Ecuadorian fishing patrol discovered him some 1,094km off the country's coast, heavily dehydrated and in critical condition.
"I did not want to die," Napa told Reuters after reuniting with his brother, in Paita, near the border with Ecuador. "I ate roaches, birds, the last thing I ate was turtles."
He said he stayed strong thinking about his family, including his two-month-old granddaughter, even as he survived on rainwater he collected on the boat and ran out of food, ultimately spending the last 15 days without eating.
"I thought about my mother everyday," he said. "I'm thankful to God for giving me a second chance.
His mother, Elena Castro, told local media that while her relatives had stayed optimistic she had began to lose hope.
"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 told TV Peru. "But my daughters never lost faith. They kept telling me: Mom, he'll come back, he'll come back."
"Mr Napa arrived in good physical condition. He could walk, wash himself. Shocked, but in good physical condition," said Peruvian Navy port captain Jorge Gonzalez.
Agencies