BOGOTA, Colombia – A person from the Caribbean island of Dominica says he survived 24 days misplaced at sea in a sailboat by consuming ketchup earlier than being rescued in Colombian waters, the nation’s naval authority stated.
“I had no food. There was only a bottle of ketchup that was on the boat, garlic powder and (bouillon cubes) Maggi. So I mixed it up with some water for me to survive 24 days in the sea,” Elvis Francois, 47, stated in English in a video launched by the Colombian Navy.
The islander had the phrase “help” carved on the hull of the boat when he was discovered 120 nautical miles northwest of Puerto Bolivar within the northern division of La Guajira.
Francois stated he noticed different boats go by and tried to flag them down, even lighting a fireplace on his vessel, however they didn’t see him.
Francois bailed water to maintain from sinking.
“The final days, about the 15th of January, I saw a plane. I had a mirror. I was making some signals,” he stated, describing how he angled the glass to catch the glare of the solar and draw consideration.
“They passed over the boat twice so I realized they saw me,” he continued. “I am grateful for being alive today because of them.”
The plane crew knowledgeable the Navy, who then rescued Francois with the assistance of a service provider ship.
Francois added: “24 days, no land. Nobody to talk to. Don’t know what to do. Don’t know where you are. It was rough. A certain time I lose hope. I think about my family.”
Video launched by the Navy exhibits a health care provider inspecting Francois, who seems to be in good well being.
“It was very rough. I don’t know how I am alive today but I am alive. And I am grateful for that,” Francois stated.
He was working to restore a sailboat off a harbor on the Caribbean island of St. Maarten within the Netherlands Antilles in December final yr when the climate turned foul and he was swept out to sea, the Navy stated.
“Without having any knowledge of navigation he was lost and disoriented at sea. His efforts to maneuver the vessel and the equipment on board were to no avail,” the assertion added.
Francois tried to make calls on his mobile phone, however he ran out of sign.
He was handed over to the immigration authorities to coordinate his return to his nation. — Agence France-Presse
