Colombian man survives two months adrift in Pacific Ocean

HONOLULU, May 6 (UPI) -- The U.S. Coast Guard helped rescue a 29-year-old Colombian man who survived two months adrift in the Pacific Ocean.

The unidentified Colombian mariner was picked up by merchant mariners in the Southeastern Pacific Ocean and was transported from a Coast Guard response boat to Honolulu on Wednesday in good condition.

"This mariner had great fortitude and is very fortunate the crew of the Nikkei Verde happened upon him as the area he was in is not heavily trafficked," said Lt. Cmdr. John MacKinnon, Joint Rescue Coordination Center chief with the Coast Guard's 14th District. "The Pacific is vast and inherently dangerous and all mariners respect that. These merchant mariners did the right thing in rendering assistance and most mariners heed the obligation to render assistance at sea, found in the Safety Of Life At Sea Convention, out of a sense of duty and understanding rather than required compliance."

JRCC watchstanders in Honolulu had received word on April 26 the crew of the Nikkei Verde vessel had located a man stranded at sea aboard a 23-foot skiff. They were located about 2,150 miles southeast of Hilo but within the Coast Guard's area of responsibility.

The Coast Guard contacted the Colombian consul in San Francisco with customs clearance, lodging, hospital car and escort ahead of his arrival to Honolulu.

According to the survivor, he and three companions left Colombia and became adrift at sea after the engine stopped. He said he caught and ate fish and seagulls. The three other men perished, he said.

The Nikkei Verde, which was heading to China, is a Panamanian-flagged 618-foot bulk carrier.

The survivor said he "thanked God that he has life" and added he "would have loved it if his friends were here with him."