A fisherman from Infanta, Quezon, who had been missing at sea for 46 days, was rescued by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) off the coast of Batanes. Robin Dejillo, 49, survived by drinking rainwater and eating coconuts he found floating in the ocean.
According to a report from GMA Regional TV News, Dejillo was found by PCG personnel on Thursday, about 15 kilometers from the shore of Batan Island.
Dejillo had been missing since August 4 after his boat ran out of fuel, leaving him unable to return to his mother boat. Strong waves carried his boat further out to sea, where he drifted for weeks.
“He survived for more than a month at sea by drinking rainwater and eating fish. He was also sustained by coconuts floating on water,” the PCG said in a statement.
The Coast Guard towed Dejillo’s boat to the port of Basco, Batanes, where he was taken to the Batanes General Hospital with assistance from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO). Once in stable condition, plans are in place to transport him back to Infanta, Quezon.