Saint Lucians Adrift At Sea For Over A Month Recount Their Ordeal

Two Saint Lucians reported adrift at sea for over a month in a 22-foot boat have been recounting their ordeal before, eventually, the Colombian Navy, in coordination with the fishing vessel “Capt Hyde I”, rescued them.

Anthony Emmanuel and his female companion, Sophia, went Christmas shopping in Martinique and encountered engine trouble on their way back to Saint Lucia on November 30 last year.

In a video interview the Colombian Navy made available to St. Lucia Times, Emmanuel said when every effort to restart the engine failed, he hoisted the vessel’s sail, but the wind broke the mast.

He disclosed that they tried in vain to return to Martinique and survived by eating food on board, including saltfish, rice, and yogurt, and drinking rainwater that fell in the boat.

“Sometimes, for the day, we didn’t eat,” Emmanuel stated, explaining that it was to ration their supplies, not knowing how long they would be adrift.

“I never lose hope because I always telling her, ‘Don’t worry, we will make land’ and every morning she get up and she see the sea water she crying – every morning. Sometimes crying four or five times for the day,” he revealed.

Emmanuel praised his rescuers and thanked them for their intervention. Both he and Sophia embraced their rescuers in a show of gratitude.

No details were available regarding where the couple resides in Saint Lucia. Still, Emmanuel said several boats bypassed them, and one vessel, which he asserted must have been on autopilot, almost rammed them.

The Colombian Navy rescued the two Saint Lucians near the San Andrés archipelago after receiving an alert, arranged for medical attention, confirmed that both were in good health and was seeking to get the couple back home safely.