When their fishing boat sank in the Pacific, two Mexican fishermen were left with almost nothing to keep them alive. With no food or water, they climbed into a small cool box and spent five days drifting through the open ocean before Mexico’s navy finally found them.
Their Fishing Trip Quickly Turned Into a Nightmare
Daniel Guerrero Martínez, 53, and José Luis Portela Villegas, 32, had set out from Paredón, a small coastal town near Guatemala. Their fishing boat, the Camaronera, sank the following day, leaving the two men stranded far from shore.
With their vessel gone, the fishermen had to find something that could keep them afloat. Their best option was a cool box that had been on board.
A Small Cool Box Became Their Lifeline
The men managed to climb inside the rectangular box and use it to stay above the waves. They had no food or drinking water as they drifted through the Pacific.
For five days, the fishermen remained at sea, exposed to the elements and facing severe dehydration. Every hour that passed made their chances of survival more uncertain.
The Search Covered More Than 100 Miles
A fishing co-operative raised the alarm after losing contact with the men. Boats were sent out to retrace their expected route, but searching such a huge stretch of ocean proved difficult.
Eventually, Mexico’s navy expanded the operation by using an aircraft to search the surrounding waters. The fishermen were eventually spotted more than 100 miles off Mexico’s coast.
Rescuers Finally Spot the Men
Footage from the rescue showed the two men leaning against the sides of their small floating shelter. A rescue boat approached them while personnel battled the rough waves to reach them.
After locating the fishermen, rescuers brought them safely aboard. Their ordeal was finally over after five days adrift in the Pacific.
The Fishermen Were Reunited With Their Families
The men were taken to a hospital, where they received treatment for severe dehydration. They were later reunited with their families.
Authorities launched an investigation into why the Camaronera sank. Officials said strong winds and bad weather may have caused the vessel to drift farther out to sea.
Against extraordinary odds, the two fishermen survived because a simple cool box gave them just enough protection to remain afloat until rescuers could find them.
Featured Image: Photo by Colman Byrne on Unsplash
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