Or is it a beat up?
www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/how-did-this-man-survive-16-months-at-sea/news-story/10a0d3af6f6eb9366a3c1942ac7a93a8
I guess it is possible. Stranger things have happened.
I remember 20 odd years ago reading the front page of The Courier Mail with a story about a guy in his 80s was found at Port Clinton just north of Yeppoon. He had run out of food and had little water but he had an open sail boat about 16 ft long with a sail made from flour sacks or whatever.
The guy just dropped out during the depression years and had been sailing up and down the Queensland coast for 40 odd years and was completely "off the radar".
A few fishermen knew about him and gave him supplies now and then. They (the authorities) "rescued" him and put him into "care".
"They" should have just given him some supplies and a bit of equipment and let him go on doing what he was happy to do.
Update today, still not sure what to make of it, I have doubts, the bloke looks too fat and happy......
www.news.com.au/castaway-jose-ivan-alvarengo-claims-to-have-survived-13-months-adrift-in-a-damaged-boat-through-turtles-birds-and-urine/news-story/443dc2d5e59fb1e19895ace132f9d551
Somewhere three months have been lost from the original story......
I just listened to a guy talking on ABC radio who had interviewed him. He was convinced and mentioned that when those photos were taken he was bloated (didn't say why) and that the next day or so he was actually much thinner.
Said that listening to him he seemed very genuine, a simple fisherman who had survived mostly by eating raw turtle and bird (yuck) and that the other young fisherman died because he vomited when attempting to eat these raw. The guy who interviewed him said he'd been living in the pacific islands for many years and had "seen just about everything".
Oh, and his boat had some cover, thus him not being burned to a shred.
Very believable. The photo showing the legs and hands is about right. Why did he keep the remains of the turtles?
One of us in the same situation may not fair as well, we are too soft. Itinerant fisherman would be fairly hardy. He was in a 8m fishing boat with shelter too. But most importantly he had the right attitude, his young companion obviously didn't.
Just update
Jos? Alvarenga big welcome in Salvador. Confirmed 13 month across Pacific.
Beached on EBON Island, Marshall archipelago.
Still looks skinny to me. Face looks OK but the arms and legs look frail. The first photos of him showed a puffy face with very thin legs. I would believe it.
Sure he is skinny, I red overseas article, he still can't walk, otherwise healthy .
How can you survive, on open boat, with no water and raw fish for 13 month.
Latest update, he's back home
www.news.com.au/travel/world-travel/castaway-reveals-he-could-have-been-saved-months-earlier/news-story/29ca92ccebd4a391f90f1278b7d05e3c
Select to expand quoteRamona said..
He is just the sort Of bloke I would prefer as company if I was ever in that situation.
I hear what you're saying but it's not a guarantee, as it didn't help his young companion that started the trip with him.
He is just the sort Of bloke I would prefer as company if I was ever in that situation.
How do you know he wouldn't eat you?
Select to expand quoteShotchas said..
He is just the sort Of bloke I would prefer as company if I was ever in that situation.
How do you know he wouldn't eat you?
The other bloke died because of bad attitude! Much easier for two people to survive than one, but you have to want to.
The Shackleton saga in Antarctica would have been worse! Rather eat raw Dolphin fish and turtle than penguin.
If you can get a copy get "Survive the Savage Sea" by Dougal Robertson. It is one of the best accounts of survival at sea from a yacht. The family's survival is greatly enhanced through maintaining an active approach to being rescued, as opposed to sitting back waiting for someone to find you. A good read too.
I have a quite large collection of boat books. I've read them all but am going to start on them again now I am retired.
Select to expand quoteMorningBird said..
I have a quite large collection of boat books. I've read them all but am going to start on them again now I am retired.
Oh Dear, I retired a few years ago and I am more busier than I have ever been [ran my own business], putting the books off till around 90 odd!
