Man stranded at sea survived on tomato sauce for 24 days!
This tomato sauce saved a life...
Ahoy, mateys! Here is the tale of a man who survived at sea despite all odds...
A man from the Caribbean island of Dominica says he survived 24 days lost at sea in a sailboat. Despite the boat getting “wrecked”, the legendary sailor survived.
In true South African style, a bottle of tomato sauce kept the sailor going.
It would a-pier that Elvis Francois, 47, used some tactical skills in order to make it back to land.
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I had no food. There was only a bottle of ketchup that was on the boat, garlic powder and (bouillon cubes) Maggi. So I mixed it up with some water for me to survive 24 days in the sea.
Reports state that the islander had the word “help” carved on the hull of the boat when he was found 120 nautical miles northwest of Puerto Bolivar in the northern department of La Guajira.
Despite his best efforts at signalling to boats that passed by, he wasn’t able to get their attention.
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So how did Francis get saved?
He shares: “The final days, about the 15th of January, I saw a plane. I had a mirror. I was making some signals,” he said, describing how he angled the glass to catch the glare of the sun and draw attention.
“They passed over the boat twice so I realised they saw me. I am grateful for being alive today because of them.”
The aircraft crew informed the navy, who then rescued Francois with the help of a merchant ship.
“24 days, no land. Nobody to talk to. Don’t know what to do. Don’t know where you are. It was rough. At a certain time I lose hope. I think about my family.”
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