A Peruvian fisherman named Gatón has been rescued after an extraordinary 95-day ordeal lost at sea. The rescue took place when a boat spotted the lights and heard a loud voice calling Gatón's nickname. Throughout this grueling experience, Gatón's unwavering faith in God and his longing to reunite with his family sustained him.
During his time adrift, Gatón faced numerous challenges, including running out of rations after approximately a month. His diet became an unusual mix of cockroaches, birds, fish, and occasionally turtle blood. Despite the adverse conditions, Gatón maintained his resolve, driven by the hope of seeing his loved ones again.
“After January and February, that’s when I started eating roaches and birds, various kinds of fish that happened to jump into the boat.” – Gatón
Gatón's ordeal also included hunting birds in the middle of the night and resorting to drinking turtle blood for survival. His resourcefulness and determination were crucial in his fight against the odds. Reflecting on these difficult choices, he said:
“I didn’t want to do it but I didn’t have a choice. It was my life.” – Gatón
In moments of despair, Gatón contemplated drastic actions and even considered using a knife to end his suffering. However, his faith played a central role in keeping him focused and hopeful.
“Firstly, it was my faith in God. Because I spoke to him for many days. Because I let him know how important my family was. My mother, my brother, my children,” – Gatón
Despite being ready to return to land after 30 days at sea, circumstances kept him adrift much longer. The emotional and physical toll was immense, yet Gatón emerged from the experience with a renewed appreciation for life.
Gatón shared his incredible story with CNN's Jimena De La Quintana, recounting the moments leading up to his rescue. The sight of lights from the boat and the sound of his nickname being called were pivotal in his journey back to safety.
“That’s when I said (to God): You did it! You did it!” – Gatón
