SYDNEY, Australia (World Press wire) -
Two Western Samoan fishermen survived almost six months adrift on the Pacific Ocean in a small metal boat. Basically, they lived on the rainwater that they collected, some small fish that they caught, and also some birds that landed on the vessel.
The men had originally set off to fish in the waters off their native island of Samoa. A huge load of fish pulled down their seven-meter aluminum boat, and it ended under the water upside down. The men managed to cut the finishing lines, to turn over the boat, and to get into it. They had to take off to two outboard motors to eliminate weight in the process. So they were left powerless as currents pushed them out into the open ocean. Somehow, as they drifted for days and then months, they missed landing on any of the islands between Samoa and Papua sent up some flares that were on board, but nobody came out to rescue them. The men said them also saw several ships pass by, but the ships just went on. The survivors were finally picked up by a fishing boat in Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea. The men found. One was not able to stand up, and lot of weight. They had also suffered from exposure to the sun and dehydration. Still it was amazing that they had survived considering the great ordeal they had gone through.