Fishermen Reunited With Families After Pirate Attack Left Them Stranded At Sea For 8 Days
This is the moment three fishermen are reunited with their tearful loved ones after being attacked by pirates, who stole the vessel’s engine and communications equipment, leaving them adrift at sea for eight days without radio.
After disappearing off the coast of Tumaco, a port city in the Colombian department of Narino, on 27th December, the three men, Jaime Perea, 63, Silvio Bonilla, 33, and Diego Angulo, 30, were rescued by the Navy and Coast Guard on 4th January.
After reportedly being attacked by pirates and having their fishing boat’s engine and communications equipment stolen, the three men eventually came across a transport motorboat in the area that took Jaime Perea back to shore.
In the seaport city of Buenaventura, the fisherman informed the Coast Guard of the location of his two colleagues in the stranded vessel.
Navy and Coast Guard personnel went to the location near the mouth of the Naya River and picked up the two men, who were brought to shore by Colombian Navy units.
The fishermen received first aid after having spent eight days at sea in inclement weather. Despite their ordeal, they were found to be in good health.
Silvio Bonilla said: “Thank God and thank the Navy. All three of us are here walking and feeling well. We are now out of danger, thank you for everything you’ve done for us.”
Silvio Bonilla and Diego Angulo were taken to Tumaco by the Coast Guard in the early hours of the morning to be reunited with their friends and family, who were waiting for them with balloons and banners.
A Navy aircraft flew Jaime Perea, who arrived in Buenaventura before the others, to Tumaco to meet his family.
Meanwhile, the local authorities have confirmed that they are investigating the alleged pirate attack at sea.
