Salvador Alvarenga, a fisherman who spent 438 days adrift

Salvador Alvarenga is a real shipwrecked man.His story is as prodigious as it is incredible, according to many products of a very fertile imagination.He knows what happened to this Salvadoran fisherman in 2012.

Salvador Alvarenga, a fisherman who spent 438 days adrift

Born in El Salvador, in Ahuachapan, in 1975, and in 2000 he launched into the migratory adventure: he moved to Mexico, specifically to Chiapas, to live as a fisherman.Alli would work in a small fishing village, on the beach of Costa Azul near the town of Pijijiapan, on the Chiapas coast, facing the Pacific.

A day like any other, on December 21, 2012 , left in his small boat of fiberglass of 7 meters in length accompanied by Ezequiel Cordoba , another young fisherman.Despite some storm warnings, they decided to go to the sea equally, because it was not the First storm with which he, Salvador Alvarenga, ran into.He was very skilled in fishing and in the na vegacion, but the storm reached them, and huge waves crashed into the boat while hurricane winds shook them; a few hours after leaving, and having damaged the radio, engine and GPS thanks to the storm, the boat drifted, diverting its route.

Salvador Alvarenga, a fisherman who spent 438 days adrift

As a good sailor, Salvador Alvarenga had He had taken more provisions than he needed, since on more than one occasion he had to stay on the high seas more than planned.Once the provisions were finished, and already convinced that a rescue would not be possible in the short term, he began fishing turtles, fish and traps for birds.

He could never make a fire, so the meat was always raw.They were very careful not to drink salt water, and so, at first they drank their own urine; But Salvador realized that he was very thirsty and, since it was not raining, he could not collect rainwater.He had an idea: to drink the blood of the turtles, and that he did, but the other young man, Ezekiel, refused to do so.

Four months passed, and Ezekiel's health was seriously compromised, because he refused to eat; He rebelled against that diet, even at the thought of his own death.I slowly stop eating raw meat, and if it didn't rain I didn't drink water.Until the fatal and inevitable outcome happened: that young fisherman died, and left alone Salvador Alvarenga on that marine immensity.

Nine more months passed, and he finally saw land; He once again laid a beach on January 30, 2014, at Ebon Atoll in the Marshall Islands, 12,500km from Chiapas.The American journalist Jonathan Franklin , a contributor to some newspapers such as The Boston Globe , The Guardian and The New York Times , decided to write their story and interview Salvador Alvarenga, who were present in the Marshall Islands when he was appeared and those who accompanied the fisherman during his hospitalization.The book is called Salvador: the incredible story of Salvador Alvarenga and his 438 days adrift , and in the story he tells adventure of his shipwreck, of his anguish, of his madness by being completely alone, of his despair.

Salvador Alvarenga, a fisherman who spent 438 days adrift

Recreational route of Salvador Alvarenga's boat, which sailed a distance of 12,500 km

However, and as if that were not enough, time after returning to El Salvador, to his hometown, his neighbors accused him of being a drug dealer and talk, and Ezequiel's relatives filed a lawsuit against him for cannibal, because of in no other way could he have survived so long.

In the face of all this, Salvador Alvarenga hired a lawyer, but then refused his services and hired an American law firm; The former lawyer contacted the relatives of the other young man and they have sued him for a million dollars .Before the accusations, Alvarenga decided to undergo any polygraph and psychological exams, and the results say there are no lies, that Salvador's version is true.

“Never think about cannibalism; by then he was right-handed in catching fish and turtles, and always We had a five-day supply.Hezequiel despaired, thought they wouldn't save us and didn't eat.In the end he was so weak that he couldn't even speak anymore."

Canibal or not, Salvador Alvarenga now he fears the sea and his health is not as good as before.If he ate human flesh or subsisted on turtles and fish, we will never know for sure; He survived an extreme adventure, that's right.He was at sea 438 days, on his little boat, alone.

Meet other shipwrecks, like these 5 of which you would like to know.And also these 4 cases of survival cannibalism.

Images: Gerard Van der Leun, Commons Wikimedia

Comments

Mike Brennan, the man who could write but not read

Recently the psychiatrist and neuroscience researcher at Yale University, Daniel Barron, published an article in the journal Scientific American that could well be the plot of a novel science and political fiction, because it involves a Basque neurologist, Colombian guerrillas, an American hospital technician and more neurologists.A story that begins with Mike Brennan, a man who could write but not read. Mike Brennan , the man who could write but not read Mike Brennan is not the real name of a cardiology technician, that one morning in 2010, meeting in the hospital where he worked, he opened the newspaper and realized that could not decipher the words in front of him .Thanks to the fact that he was aware of his background-he was hypertensive-and probably also to his work environment, he knew immediately that he must be suffering some kind of accident cerebrovascular, so aba He donated his office and headed directly to the emergency room, where he was evaluated and it was dete...

Tequila could help you lose weight shots!

Everything seems to indicate that the quintessential party drink, Tequila, could be the key to help you get rid of those extra kilos ? A group of scientists conducted an investigation through which they have discovered that the sugar present in the agave, the plant from which tequila is derived, can assist in the process of burning calories.Learn how it works. To lose a few kilos, could tequila be the help you need? Let's see it! Losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight is something that many people have difficulties with, one of them is the fact that alcohol consumption sabotages efforts of exercise and diet, but thanks to recent research at least one drink could have the opposite effect and instead, help achieve the desired goals. The sugars found in the agave , the plant that produces tequila, could reduce blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes and help obese people lose weight, researchers say. It is treated specifically of a type of natural sugar...

Could there be a scientific basis for reincarnation?

reincarnation is a belief that consists in believing that the soul, spirit or individual energy, once the person dies, adopts another material body.He has been present in the history of mankind since his early, especially developing in Eastern religions. Buddhism, Hinduism or Taoism , for example, believe that the person who has died will appear again in another body.Some researchers have focused their studies on this possible transmigration, trying to find out if... Could there be a scientific basis for reincarnation? Reincarnation seen from science E l Dr.Jim Tucker, professor of psychiatry and neurological behavior sciences at the University of Virginia, has tried to find out if there could be a scientific basis for the belief in the reincarnation or transmigration.In this link you can read the interview c The NPR station did it completely.In English, Dr.Tucker explains that since the 1990s they are studying cases of possible reincarnations and that more than 2,500...

And you, also "procrastins"?

And you? Procrastines too? If you don't, we are sure that you know someone who does it continuously and that, surely, makes you despair.But what does this disturbing word really mean? Let's give an example: you have been dating a person for a long time, you make plans for the future, you have many illusions and projects, however, your partner never seems to decide.He is unable to formalize your relationship because something like that, not only overwhelms him, but even He is lazy. "Are we not well like that?" I often reproach you. Let's give another example: you may have the classic friend who never seems to finish his studies.It is easy to be an "eternal" university student who faces the responsibilities and anxieties of the working world. And what about people who spend all their time in front of a computer screen letting out "real life" ? Sometimes, it is much easier to let ourselves go, evading responsibilities, than to put means t...

Eating a hearty breakfast can help you lose weight, according to science

The search for a healthy life is for many a tortuous and difficult way to find, but thanks to research, scientists have been able to reveal that the key to losing weight could be in an abundant breakfast. Find out why. Scientists say that eating a hearty breakfast is the secret to losing weight The results of a study that lasted for seven years suggest that the key to a Healthy weight is in making breakfast the biggest meal of the day . According to Simmons College nutrition professor in the United States, Rachele Pojednic, Ph.D, the main fuel for the brain is glucose , which is obtained by eating food, predominantly high in carbohydrates, but if the brain's glucose supply is cut off, it will cause blood sugar fall, making one feel tired, irritable and unable to concentrate. S However, the mood and efficiency of work is not the only reason why it is advisable to stick to a regular daily eating schedule.Fasting only means that the body gets excited when it is finally gi...

The last hell on Earth: Gitarama

Nowadays there are still some reconditos places that we could qualify as real hell. Forgotten spaces by humanitarian organizations, by politicians, by bold journalists...Dark corners that live in that underworld of legality , which is almost better not to know, so as not to be ashamed and avoid becoming more aware of how far the human being can go. Today we want to talk to you about Gitarama prison .that many facts are not easy to assimilate, and that we have preferred to omit photographs, which on some occasion have been able to seep over what happens in this prison in Rwanda. Today, we invite you to take an uncomfortable walk through the last circle of the hell of Africa. The last hell of the Earth: the jail of Gitarama This is how they usually describe this jail located in a corner of the jungle from Rwanda in Africa.While it is true that some A humanitarian organization has denounced the case, for now, the only thing that has been achieved is the promise that the faci...

6 Things that only happen in North Korea

There are places in the world that seem surreal to us.One of them is North Korea, where things happen under the mandate of Kim Jong-un that seem to be taken out of a horror movie like the ones we tell you below. 28 haircuts In North Korea there are only 28 haircuts allowed, such is the dictator's control over such personal and unimportant aspects as this.Men have 14 haircuts and can have a maximum length of 4 centimeters.Single women should wear it short. Both the cultivation and consumption of marijuana is legal Curious, taking into account the strict and extensive list of restrictions imposed by the dictator in his country. Ultra-powerful leaders Citizens must believe, and if not more they pretend well, that the leaders have supernatural powers. Since childhood they are told all kinds of stories, away from the re alidad, with the aim of making them submissive and fully controllable by the system. One of the examples is that of the father of the current ruler ...

5 animals with curious mating rites

In Science Daily Online we love animals and we have presented articles talking about octopus or killer whales, for example.On this occasion we want to look at the curious courtship rites of 5 animals.All species have rituals to "conquer" their partners and get to mating and many of them are unique.We have chosen the hedgehog, the garter snake, the bird of the bower, the porcupine and the elephant to investigate their life loving. The porcupine The female porcupine is only receptive to mating for 12 hours a year! The male has to try Let's see if it's time. It stands on its hind legs and walks towards it, when it is relatively close (approximately 2 meters) throws a stream of urine . The female, wet, if she is not receptive she will scream and try to get rid of the urine.If she is willing, she will stand up like him, showing her belly , and proceed to mating.Be careful not to pinch the fists Naturally. The bird of the emparrado The bird of the...

How to make a good first impression that will last

Most people will judge you from the first second of meeting you and that opinion, created in a matter of seconds, will probably never change. Leaving a good first impression is very important, because you only get one chance to get there to know and be known better. We leave you some easy ways to make a good first impression! How to make a good first impression easily? 1.A firm handshake They say this point is essential to leave a good first impression, but why? A good handshake-without exceeding the applied force, because we do not want to appear aggressive-it transmits confidence and willingness to concentrate and meet the person. A situation that the person who receives your grip will surely notice. 2.Visual contact Like the previous point, eye contact is very important: Give people the time and attention they deserve and they will remember you forever. Treat people well, look them in the eye and they will notice, feel heard and remember you. 3.Have a sense of h...

30 Curiosities about elephants | Extraordinary creatures

The largest land animals in the world are, as everyone knows, elephants.Their most common habitats are found in sub-Saharan Africa and in South Asia.They are intelligent, peaceful and very beautiful animals. 30 Curiosities about elephants , extraordinary creatures at the same time fascinating. There are three species of elephants, the African savanna, the African forest and the Asian, but unfortunately the three are in danger due to poaching and the destruction of their habitat.The population of elephants is declining dramatically throughout the world and several international groups are carrying out campaigns to protect them.African elephants, for example, have been Qualified as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Asians are on the list of endangered animals. 30 Curiosities about elephants 1.Elephants they are proboscideos which is an order of placental mammals that currently has only one living family called "Elephantidae." This ...

Science Daily Online

Search This Blog