Colombian navy rescues Dominican nationwide after 24 days at sea

The Colombian navy says it rescued a person from the Caribbean Group (CARICOM) island of Dominica who says he survived 24 days adrift within the Caribbean on a sailboat by consuming ketchup, garlic powder and seasoning cubes.

Officers stated Elvis Francois, 47, had scrawled the phrase “assist” in English on the boat’s hull that was noticed from the air 120 nautical miles northwest of La Guajira peninsula.

Francois was taken to the port metropolis of Cartagena by a passing container ship, the Colombian navy stated in a press release.

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It stated Francois instructed Colombian authorities that his ordeal started in December when currents swept the sailboat out to sea whereas he was making repairs off the island of St. Martin within the Netherlands Antilles, the place he lives.

“With none data of navigation, he was misplaced and disoriented at sea, his efforts to maneuver the ship and the tools on board had been ineffective”, the discharge stated.

“I referred to as my pals, they tried to contact me, however I misplaced the sign. There was nothing else to do however sit and wait,” Francois recalled in a video launched by the navy, including that he subsisted on a bottle of ketchup, garlic powder and Maggi cubes.

“I might do nothing however sit and wait. Twenty-four days away from the earth, with nobody to speak to, with out understanding what to do, or the place I used to be. It was exhausting, at occasions I misplaced hope, I considered my household”, Francois stated.

In line with the press assertion, on January 15 he noticed an plane and utilizing a mirror and the solar’s reflection he beginning sending alerts to it.

“After I noticed it go twice, I understood they’d seen me,” he stated.

A Colombian naval vessel got here to help him with the assist of a service provider ship.

“Sooner or later I misplaced hope and considered my household, however I thank the coast guard. If it weren’t for them I wouldn’t be telling the story,” Francois stated.

The Colombian navy stated the sailboat was deserted at sea when Francois was picked up by the service provider ship.

It stated Francois obtained a medical test on shore after which was handed over to immigration authorities for his return house to Dominica.

Within the video, Francois says he’s from Anse de Mai, a fishing village within the northeast of Dominica,

“My mom them have to be frightened. So I attempting to allow them to know that I alive.”

CMC/