A Peruvian fisherman survived 95 days alone in the Pacific Ocean through faith and his love for family.
Sometimes we pray hard and wait for an answer, but nothing happens. We might be in a really tough spot with no one to help us. We start to wonder if God is even listening.
But this fisherman’s story will show you that God hears every single prayer, even when everything looks hopeless.
What Started as a Routine Fishing Trip
Máximo Napa Castro, who goes by Gatón, left the port of Marcona, Peru on December 7 for what should have been a simple two week fishing trip.
The 61-year-old fisherman packed enough food to last a month. He planned to catch fish eggs near the southern coast of Peru.
Ten days into his trip, a storm hit. The powerful winds and waves blew his boat far off course.
Castro found himself drifting in the vast Pacific Ocean with no way to get back to shore.
When Everything Went Wrong
Things got much worse on December 20 when his boat’s motor stopped working. Castro tried many times to fix the engine, but nothing worked.
He was now completely stuck in the middle of the ocean with no power and limited supplies.
For the first 30 days, Castro lived on the rice and crackers he had brought. He collected rainwater to drink whenever storms passed over his boat.
But as weeks turned into months, his food ran out completely.
Faith Became His Anchor
“Firstly, it was my faith in God. Because I spoke to him for many days. Because I let him know how important my family was. My mother, my brother, my children,” Castro told CNN in an interview after his rescue.
Fighting to Survive
When his regular food was gone, Castro had to make hard choices to stay alive. He started eating cockroaches and catching birds that landed on his boat at night.
Around 1 or 2 in the morning, birds would rest on top of his boat and fall asleep. Castro would sneak up on them with a club and catch them for food.
“I didn’t want to do it but I didn’t have a choice. It was my life,” he explained.
Castro even had to catch a turtle at one point. He didn’t eat the meat but drank its blood because he had no other water source.
The Darkest Moments
The mental struggle was just as hard as finding food and water. Castro’s hope faded as days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months.
Castro reached such a low point that he considered ending his life.
“I even got a knife three times. Three times I got the knife because I couldn’t take it anymore,” he said. “But I told myself: Calm down, Gatón. You can do it. You can do it.”
What kept Castro going was his faith in God and thoughts of his family. He prayed every day and talked to God constantly.
Sometimes he got angry and asked God hard questions. “I said to him, ‘What am I going to find here? Who’s going to save me?'”
But Castro always asked for forgiveness after these moments of doubt.
His family back home never stopped looking for him. Castro’s daughter Ines organized search parties with local fishermen.
The family asked authorities to search from the air, but Castro’s boat had no radio beacon to help rescuers find him.
Family Never Gave Up Hope
“We, as a family, never lost faith — the hope — that we would find my father,” Ines told reporters.
Castro’s mother Elena prayed constantly for her son’s return. She told God, “Whether he’s alive or dead, bring him here, even if it’s just to see him.”
The Miracle Rescue
On March 12, after 95 days at sea, Castro’s prayers were answered. The crew of an Ecuadorean tuna boat spotted him about 680 miles from the Peruvian coast. Castro was dehydrated and in critical condition, but alive.
A rescue helicopter arrived to take Castro to safety. When he heard someone calling his nickname from the helicopter, Castro looked up and said to God, “You did it! You did it!”
Coming Home
The reunion with his family was emotional. His brother met him at the dock in Paita, and both men cried as they hugged. Later, his daughter welcomed him at the airport in Lima with a bottle of pisco, Peru’s national drink.
Castro’s community celebrated his return. Neighbors decorated the streets and gave him a special cake with decorative birds, cockroaches, and a turtle on top.
“I thought about my mother every day. I’m thankful to God for giving me a second chance,” Castro said.
He was especially eager to see his two month old granddaughter and eat home cooked meals again. Castro looked forward to simple dishes like arroz con pollo and other family favorites.
Sharing His Story of Faith
Now Castro wants to share his story with the world. “I will tell my story worldwide, so the world knows that God is everything in this life, that we put our hand on our chest and fill ourselves with love, give love. That is what we need here on Earth,” he said.
Castro’s story shows us that God never abandons us. When we feel lost and alone, we can remember that the same God who kept one man alive for 95 days at sea is watching over us too.
His love for us never fails, and He hears every prayer we whisper in our times of need.
WATCH: Stranded Fisherman Clings to God for 95 Days at Sea
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