Two Mexican Fishermen Rescued After Five Days Adrift in Cooler

Two fishermen have been rescued after spending five days adrift in a cooler in the Pacific Ocean. The men were located approximately 240 kilometers off the coast of the southern Mexican state of Chiapas during a search and rescue operation conducted by the Mexican Navy. The Navy utilized ships and aircraft to find the men, who were eventually flown by helicopter to the port of Puerto Chiapas to be reunited with their families.

The incident began when a wave struck their fishing boat, named Camaronera, around 3:00 a.m. local time. According to the younger fisherman, Jose Luis Portelas, the shipwreck happened in less than five minutes, leaving them no time to gather food, drinking water, or a radio. The men survived by emptying a blue cooler and climbing inside. Daniel Guerrero, the other fisherman, stated that the lack of rain and intense sun made the experience particularly grueling.

A fishing cooperative had alerted authorities after losing contact with the men on August 14. The fishermen are aged 53 and either 32 or 35, depending on the report. Following their rescue, the men underwent medical examinations. One report noted that their health condition was surprisingly good given the ordeal.