Overview

• Máximo Napa Castro, 61, went missing on December 7, 2024, after stormy weather blew his fishing boat off course during a two-week trip.
• He survived by collecting rainwater and eating what he could find, including cockroaches, birds, and turtles, before spending his last 15 days without food.
• An Ecuadorian fishing patrol discovered him on March 11, 2025, severely dehydrated and in critical condition, 680 miles from the Peruvian coastline.
• Napa credited thoughts of his family, including his two-month-old granddaughter, for keeping him motivated to survive during the ordeal.
• After receiving medical care, he was reunited with his family in emotional scenes, with plans to celebrate his missed birthday and recovery.