Mariner Rescued After 2 Months Adrift in the Pacific
Written by wdkxwp on May 6, 2016
29 year old Javier Eduardo Olaya was fishing with a few of his compadres before their engine failed causing their boat to go adrift.
The four mariners began their escapade off the Colombian coast near a protected Marine sanctuary, but Olaya was rescued 2,000 miles southeast of Hawaii. The crew managed to survive by eating fish and seagulls. However, sadly, 3 passed away before being discovered by U.S. Coast Guards. Their bodies have not been found, but their passports were still on board the 23 foot skiff.
You may be wondering why such a lengthy time before being sought out and discovered. Well apparently the sailors’ vessel was not reported missing; neither was it registered at the Colombian port. In other words, to port officials, the vessel didn’t exist.
The skiff was accidentally discovered by a merchant ship last month. Olaya, the sole survivor, was then transported to a smaller coast guard boat, and was just brought to Hawaiian shores Wednesday, May 4th.
Olaya is now home with his wife and family in Colombia.
Racqui
