Peruvian fisherman survived 90 days at sea by eating cockroaches, turtles, and birds

The story of Máximo Napa Castro is a tale of struggle and overcoming. The fisherman who survived more than 90 days lost at sea off the coast of Peru has been discharged from the Hospital Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes in Paita and has already reunited with his family.

Napa Castro, 61 years old, was reported missing after setting sail from the port of San Juan de Marcona (Ica) on December 7, 2024. After being discharged from medical care, it was reported that he is stable, but still fragile due to the journey.

How did the Peruvian fisherman survive being lost at sea for 90 days?

After being discharged, Napa Castro expressed his eagerness to see his mother and his granddaughter, who were his inspiration when he was lost at sea. "I have my mother alive, I didn’t want to die for my mother. I have a two-month-old granddaughter, I clung to her, every day I thought of my mother," he recounted.

‘Gatón’, as his friends also call him, remembered that, for the last 15 days, he had to eat insects, birds, and even a turtle to survive. “It was a miracle from God,” said his daughter, Inés, while holding a photograph of her father, who “has been a true warrior,” according to his family members.

Accompanied by his brother, Máximo left a hospital aboard a mototaxi, and local media reported that on Saturday he boarded a plane bound for Lima to reunite with his family in Pisco (Ica).

‘Gatón’ set sail on that fateful day in December to catch sea urchins in Marcona, but the weather conditions caused his boat to lose its course and enter open sea.

Nearly one hundred days after his disappearance, Máximo was found in Ecuadorian waters by the crew of a tuna fishing vessel.

According to the commander of the first naval base in Paita, Jorge Calizaya, Napa Castro’s boat did not have an emergency beacon, which made it difficult to locate it at sea and that’s why its rescue took so long.

The official of the Peruvian Navy explained that the fisherman is in stable condition, but it was necessary to transfer him to the Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes hospital in Paita to receive specialized care. “I believe it was an unfortunate event. Not having the radio beacon made the work a bit more difficult, it is a requirement that was not met, but thankfully he is with us now,” he stated.