Miraculous Rescue: Peruvian Fisherman Survives 95 Days Adrift at Sea

After enduring a harrowing 95 days lost at sea, Peruvian fisherman Máximo Napa Castro was finally rescued by an Ecuadorean tuna boat crew. His survival techniques included eating whatever he could find to stay alive, including small animals, and holding onto hope through prayer.

Máximo Napa Castro, a 61-year-old fisherman from Peru, experienced an unimaginable survival ordeal that has captivated attention worldwide. Stranded in the Pacific Ocean for 95 days, Castro prayed fervently and clung to the hope of reuniting with his family after setting out from the Peruvian port of Marcona on December 7. The desperate fisherman endured extreme circumstances, surviving on what little he could catch, including cockroaches, birds, and eventually a turtle, whose blood provided him with vital hydration.

During the long days adrift, his conversations with God became a source of strength. At times, he expressed frustration and doubt about his fate, asking, “What am I going to find here? Who's going to save me?” Nevertheless, his faith never wavered entirely. He continually believed that help was on the way, as he reflected, “Someone is coming or a helicopter is coming.”

His unwavering hope was ultimately fulfilled on March 12, when the crew of an Ecuadorean tuna boat, navigating hundreds of miles away from the Peruvian coast, spotted Castro's fishing vessel. Peruvian media RPP News reported on this miraculous rescue that ended Castro's long period of isolation. After a harrowing journey with no promise of survival, he is now back with his family, who are relieved and grateful for his return. His extraordinary ordeal serves as a testament to human resilience and the will to survive against all odds.