How Did They Survive 285 Days Lost at Sea?

Описание: Five Mexican fishermen left San Blas on 28 October 2005 for a three‑day shark run; a storm snapped their 500‑hook long‑line and killed both outboards, setting them adrift on the North Equatorial Current . Over 285 days Jesús Vidaña, Salvador Ordóñez, and Lucio Rendón survived by catching turtles bare‑handed, drinking rainwater funnelled through blankets, and eating raw fish, birds, even blood—while captain Juan Lorenzo and “El Farsero” perished after refusing raw fare . Their panga drifted 8 800 km before the Taiwanese vessel Koo’s 102 rescued them east of the Marshall Islands on 9 August 2006.
Inside the panga, Salvador read his Bible daily, Jesús sang ballads to lift morale, and Lucio’s Casio watch tracked “nine months, nine days” to keep them sane . Using engine parts, they forged hooks and caught enough protein to ward off scurvy, while storms twice threatened to capsize their 28‑foot boat . Oceanographers later confirmed their drift speed matched historic Manila Galleon routes; medical tests found no scurvy thanks to raw vitamin‑C‑rich meat.
Skeptics cried hoax and cannibalism until polygraph tests, current modeling, and consistent testimony silenced doubts . The trio returned home on 27 August 2006, thinner but healthy, met by ringing church bells and sheep barbacoa celebrations, then quietly went back to fishing
. Their ordeal now shapes Mexican small‑boat safety policy—EPIRBs and departure logs that could have ended the nightmare in hours