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AP
Adrian Vasquez, left, an 18-year-old Panamanian who worked in a seaside resort hotel, receives medical attention aboard an Ecuadorean navy ship on Sunday.
Updated at 6:01 a.m. ET: A teen has apparently survived 28 days adrift in the Pacific Ocean after going on a fishing trip with two friends, according to reports. Adrian Vasquez, who was rescued by the Ecuadorean navy on Sunday, said he stayed alive by drinking rainwater and eating raw fish, the BBC reported.
Vasquez said neither of his friends survived, but that he had always held onto the hope he would be rescued.
AP
Adrian Vasquez receives medical attention on Sunday.
The 18-year-old was found drifting alone near the Galapagos Islands on his friends' 10-foot fishing boat more than 600 miles from where they had set out.
He was first found by a commerical fishing vessel then handed over to Ecuador's coast guard. The trio had been missing since February 24.
The Associated Press reported the three were heading back to his home port of Rio Hato when the boat's motor failed.
Rainstorm
Vasquez told the Ecuadorean navy crew he likely owed his survival to a sudden rainstorm that replenished his water supply.
The young Panamanian recounted his story to Hugo Espinosa, captain of the navy vessel, after being treated for malnutrition and severe dehydration. He recalled they had caught a lot of fish, and had a big jug of water.
The AP quoted Espinosa as saying Vasquez had identifed his dead friends as Oropeces Betancourt, 24, and Fernano Osorio, 16.
Arnulfo Franco / AP
Rescued castaway Adrian Vasquez is surrounded by family members upon his arrival to Tocumen international airport in Panama City on Tuesday.
Panamanian navy boats began to search for the vessel but did not find it. Espinosa said the ice melted and the fish rotted, leaving the trio to live off what they could catch with their net.
"The spirits of the survivors began to wane with the passing of days," Espinosa told The Associated Press.
The report said Betancourt stopped eating and drinking after two weeks and died on March 10. Three days later, his body began to decompose and Vasquez threw it over the side.
AP
Adrian Vasquez, center, poses with Ecuadorean sailors onboard a navy ship on Monday.
Osorio died on March 15, also apparently of dehydration, sunburn and heat stroke. After three days, Vasquez pushed his other friend's body into the ocean, the AP said.
"When he was nearly dead, on March 19, it rained, and Vasquez was able to fill up with four gallons of water," said Espinosa. He spent the next five days eating raw fish before being spotted by commercial fishermen working on a skiff from a mother ship, the Duarte V.
'He was quiet'
Once aboard, Vasquez asked for a telephone so he could make two calls, the AP reported. The first was to his mother. The second was to the hotel manager to explain why he had missed so many days of work.
"He didn't know what was happening. He was quiet, looking lost," Espinosa said.
Vasquez was flown on Monday to Guayaquil on the Ecuadorean mainland before flying to Panama City on Tuesday where he was greeted by a crowd including family and friends.
The AP report said the teenager shed some tears as his relatives hugged him but he didn't talk to reporters.
The Associated Press and msnbc.com staff contributed to this report.
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Leave a Comment:
Why is everything about racism in the U.S. Where I come from I didn't learn about racism till I moved here.
I was born in Missississippi and didn' learn about racism until the Jesse and Al show came along.
Tampabay,
Racism is everywhere and it's not always about skin color. Where did you come from?
Are you suggesting that all Americans regardless of color are racists? That is a racist comment in itself. If you don't like it here, then leave.
You know we have reached the peak of cynicism when a story about a child's miraculous survival is met instantaneously with race baiting, accusations of god knows what (cannibalism?) and references to completely unrelated stories.
Agreed. I was reading through the posts, wondering what happened to all of the positive comments. This young man went through an overwhelming, horrifying experience, and had enough strength and courage to not give up after TWENTY-EIGHT DAYS! I can't imagine what he had to have felt and coped with while drifting, with no sign of rescue. He watched his two companions die right in front of him, but he beat the odds himself. What a miracle and a blessing for his family to be able to welcome him home again. I hope he and the families of his friends can find peace when thinking back on their tragic loss, and that he can view his renewed chance at life as the amazing gift that it is.
I agree too, but this is what every single article turns into. It's just a way for morons to impose their religious (or lack of), political, racist, etc. points of view. We should be able to discuss this awesome story, like normal people, without attacking each other. Some people will argue even in agreement.
I wonder If Oblamo had a son he would like him?
Look like.
Prayers for this young man and his family. We would hire him also.
I am glad for this young mans survival. Sad that there is no mention of Gods mercifullness in being brought out of this tribulation. Its a sad world when we do not know and acknowledge God. No doubt it must have been a horrible thing to remove the bodies of his friends from the boat and not knowing if he would be next. Surely Jesus was right there all the time protecting and providing. Truly a miracle if not to the public, at the very least, a miracle to this young man. I hope and pray he realizes that he did not survive without the mercy of God. Surely this man knows he was watched over and comforted by Jesus. I pray you all search for the Lord Jesus. Read your Bibles(every verse I read pulls me closer to Him that made me), Pray (every humble bowing of the head, every bending of the knee draws Jesus deeper in my heart). Do not fail to walk the path that Jesus tread so many years ago so that I, a nothing of this world might have a chance for everlasting life at the feet of God. I will shout to the mountain tops just to have the lowliest place in his loving presence. The hour is nigh when he will no longer hear the voices of them who forsake his Holy Word. The last hours of this world all will need the mercy of Jesus, the only judge of man. Do not be one of them who will not know Him. God bless. Search for truth in Jesus. NOT in man.
Where was the 'Lord Jesus' when the motor failed and other 2 guys died?
Maybe Bejeezus didn't like them ?
BeeCee,
You are free to your opinion, everyone is. I just hope you realize it is simply an opinion and nothing can be provided as evidence for your beliefs. Faith and 2000 year old books written by people who hated Rome doesn't count either.
What a ridiculous comment. So what had the other 2 done that they deserved to die in agony of sunburn and thirst?? Was Jesus standing beside them watching?? Your stupidity is truly amazing.
This is the handiwork of God.
I am very happy for this guy. He showed great will and strength. How sweet his first call was to mama and the second to his job.. That also speaks miles to his character.
I think Jim must have drank the seawater. LOL!!!!!!!!!
Race really had nothing to do with it. If the boys had all been Norwegian, it still would have been possible that one killed the other to get the scarce water supply.
WILSON!!!!
Always amazes me to see how many idiots are on MSN
And to think some of you are of child bearing age. Yes, God bless America indeed. We will need it.
I'm impressed with the continuity of hope Adrian held onto. Imagine the minutes and hours alone and the vast, vast sea, the vast sky. I wonder how quiet it was. I wonder what he experienced internally. I'm also impressed that his values led him to call his employer after his he called his mom. He could have just forgot about it for the time being, or asked someone else to contact his employer. It makes me wonder about the economy, the dire need to acquire and keep employment ... it makes me wonder about the power of employment.
So let me get this straight he isn't a somalian pirate and wasn't wearing a hoodie and he didn't kill his two friends with a bag of skittles and an ice tea ?
Being lost at sea for that amount of time with extremely limited recourses, I seriously doubt that all of the friends would have survived. This poor kid was darn lucky to have made it. He looks very thin and frail. Had it been a few more days, I don't think he would have made it.
Too bad he didn't have some Red Wings.
The only thing sadder than the death of those two young men is the posters on this board.
Wow!! that's determination... I don't think I'll be able to survive that long... :(
He should get Employee of the Month calling his boss right away!
i was going to comment on the article but with all the idiotic comments made on here, i decided i didn't want to be a part.
You're a part of it now, duh.
I swear this is ALMOST the same scenario from a Kurt Vonnegut book called "Galapagos". Except that all of the inhabitants of the boat in his book evolve into furry seals. So this guy should consider himself doubly lucky!
Check his poop for his friends bones.
It is good to read that the kid turned out to be okay. That must have been pretty terrifying for him.
I am always curious as to what the media often states "28' days at sea, when in regard to stories like this.
It is never 19 day, 27 days or 32 days, it is usually stated as being "28".
That is an EXTREMELY dumb comment!
Could it be that you were deprived of oxygen for 28 days in the womb?
Yo momma fat and dehydrated and huuuungry!
28 days hot sun, no water or food or shelter. tuff kid.
???maybe he survived by having dinner with friends???