- Maximo Napa survived 94 days adrift in the Pacific Ocean by eating turtles, birds, and cockroaches.
- The 61-year-old Peruvian fisherman was rescued by an Ecuadoran vessel off the coast of Chimbote.
- He credited his survival to thoughts of his mother and newborn granddaughter.
Maximo Napa’s journey began on December 7 from San Juan de Marcona. A combination of poor weather and lack of navigation equipment pushed him far off course.
The Peruvian Navy confirmed that Napa was in surprisingly good physical health upon rescue, despite his ordeal. He was treated in a hospital in Paita and has since been discharged.
Saved by Hope: Man Rescued After 94 Days Lost at Sea
Napa’s tale adds to a string of recent survival stories at sea. Here, sheer willpower has proven more powerful than the odds. Like the Russian man Mikhail Pichugin, who endured over two months in icy waters. Or the Australian sailor Tim Shaddock and his dog Bella. Napa’s survival highlights how people adapt when pushed to the brink.
Unlike other rescues, Napa had no communication tools, no emergency supplies, and no human contact. His makeshift meals included raw turtles and birds, and in moments of desperation, even cockroaches. He stayed alive not through resources, but through resilience and an emotional tether to his family back home.
The fisherman’s daughter, Ines Napa, called his rescue a miracle. She said the family had kept faith throughout his absence. His niece shared how they will now treat his upcoming birthday as more than a celebration. It’s a second chance at life. For the Napa family, it’s not just a survival story; it’s a deeply personal triumph.
Images shared by the Peruvian Navy show Napa’s emotional reunion with his brother. His determined yet tired face is seen receiving medical care. As he continues to recover, his story stands as a testament to hope, endurance, and the power of family in the face of nature’s extremes.
Maximo Napa’s survival is a profound reminder. When all else is stripped away, love, memory, and sheer human grit can still chart a path home.
“Hope is the only thing stronger than fear.” — Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games
