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What Happened When a Fishing Trip Took a Dangerous Turn
It was November 17, 2012, a day that Alvarenga would remember for the rest of his life. That morning, his boss contacted him to say the conditions were ideal for fishing. Alvarenga, an experienced fisherman from Costa Azul, Mexico, had often ventured into the sea with confidence. Typically, he worked with another skilled fisherman, but his usual partner was unavailable that day. As a result, his boss paired him with Cordoba, a young man just twenty four years old and new to the job.
The plan was to complete a short 30-hour fishing trip. Alvarenga and Cordoba packed only the essentials, not bothering to ensure that every supply was accounted for. They believed it would be a straightforward journey. Their small boat carried a single motor, a fridge for storing their catch, a half-charged radio, and a GPS. The GPS, however, was not waterproof, and the boat lacked a roof. Neither of them considered these details critical, confident they would return before any issues arose.
By one in the morning, the two fishermen were already 120 kilometers from the coast. They worked under the stars, casting their nets and preparing for a successful haul. Without warning, a powerful windstorm swept over them. The storm was unlike anything Alvarenga had ever experienced. Cordoba, overwhelmed by fear, could hardly contain his panic as their small boat was tossed violently by the unrelenting winds.
In their desperation, Alvarenga and Cordoba began throwing everything overboard. They discarded their catch, the fishing nets, and even the oars, hoping to stabilize the boat. The storm showed no mercy, raging for six hours and leaving the two fishermen physically and emotionally drained. When the winds finally subsided at dawn, they spotted a mountain in the distance.
Initially, Alvarenga and Cordoba believed they had been pushed closer to land. Their relief was short lived when they discovered the motor would not start, damaged by the relentless rain. To make matters worse, they realized they had thrown the oars overboard during the storm. Stranded and unable to navigate, they were at the mercy of the sea.
Using the radio, they managed to contact their boss and described the mountain they had seen. He instructed them to activate the GPS so he could locate their position. However, the rain had ruined the device, rendering it useless. Before they could explain the full extent of their predicament, the radio’s battery died, cutting off their only means of communication.
The winds near the mountain were unforgiving, pushing the boat farther out to sea. Alvarenga and Cordoba tried to use their hands as makeshift oars, but their efforts were in vain. Over the next five days, their boss searched the waters near the mountain, but the storm had carried them 450 kilometers away from shore.
It was then that Alvarenga and Cordoba faced the devastating truth. They were alone, adrift in the vast Pacific Ocean, surrounded by nothing but endless water.
How They Fought a Storm That Changed Everything
The night was calm as Alvarenga and Cordoba began fishing, but their world changed within minutes. Without warning, a violent windstorm struck, shaking their small boat as though it were a fragile toy. Alvarenga, seasoned by years of experience, had faced many storms before, yet this one was unlike anything he had ever encountered. Fear gripped him as the wind howled and the waves lashed against the boat.
Cordoba, young and inexperienced, was overcome with terror. He screamed as the storm roared around them. Alvarenga tried to maintain his composure, but the unrelenting storm tested every ounce of his courage. Each wave struck with such force that it felt as though their boat might flip at any moment.
In their panic, they made critical mistakes. Desperate to keep the boat afloat, Alvarenga and Cordoba began throwing everything overboard their catch, the fishing nets, and even the oars. At the time, it felt like the only way to survive. The storm raged on for six grueling hours, draining every ounce of their strength.
When the winds finally calmed, the first light of dawn revealed a mountain in the distance. Exhausted but hopeful, Alvarenga and Cordoba believed the storm had driven them closer to land. For a brief moment, it seemed as though their ordeal might come to an end.
Their relief turned to despair when they tried to start the motor, only to find it was damaged by the rain. With the oars gone, they had no way to steer. Realizing the gravity of their predicament, they used the radio to contact their boss and described the mountain they could see. He instructed them to activate the GPS so their location could be pinpointed, but the rain had ruined the device. Before they could explain further, the radio’s battery died, cutting off their only means of communication.
Determined to reach the mountain, Alvarenga and Cordoba attempted to paddle with their hands, but the powerful winds from the mountain pushed them farther into the open sea. Their efforts were futile, leaving them powerless against the elements.
By the time the storm had passed, the two fishermen were not only lost but utterly stranded. With no tools, no means of communication, and no sense of direction, their fishing trip had turned into a harrowing battle for survival. The storm had changed everything, leaving Alvarenga and Cordoba at the mercy of the vast and unforgiving ocean.
Surviving Alone in the Middle of the Ocean – Alvarenga’s Struggle for Survival
As the days passed, Alvarenga and Cordoba came to understand the harsh reality they were utterly alone. The vast expanse of the ocean surrounded them, offering no sign of life or land. At first, they managed to survive on rainwater collected in the boat. For food, Alvarenga relied on his instincts, using his bare hands to catch fish. The task was far from easy, but it was their only option. They ate the fish raw, and though it was unpleasant, survival left no room for choice.
Eventually, the rainwater was gone. Alvarenga noticed turtles swimming near the boat and remembered that their blood could sustain them. Catching the turtles and drinking their blood became their grim reality. It was not ideal, but it kept them alive. As time passed, even the turtles began to disappear, adding to their despair.
One day, Alvarenga spotted a small bottle floating nearby. He grabbed it, hoping it might contain water, but it was empty. He kept it regardless, believing it might prove useful. The following day brought heavy rain, and they used the fridge and the bottle to collect as much water as they could. Though it felt like a small victory, it offered only temporary relief.
Days later, a stroke of fortune came their way. A box drifted toward the boat, and Alvarenga opened it with trembling hands, desperate for a miracle. Inside, he found spoiled milk, cabbage, carrots, and bubblegum. It was not much, but to them, it felt like a banquet. They rationed the food carefully, hoping to stretch it as long as possible.
Months dragged on, and once again, the food and water ran out. Desperation consumed Alvarenga, forcing him to do the unthinkable drink his own urine. It was a humiliating and painful decision, but survival demanded it.
Cordoba, however, began to lose hope. He refused to eat and seemed to surrender to despair. Alvarenga begged him to hold on, to fight for survival, but Cordoba would not listen. One morning, Alvarenga tried to wake his companion, only to find that he was gone. Cordoba had succumbed to the hardships they faced.
For six days, Alvarenga refused to accept the truth. He continued speaking to Cordoba as if he were still alive, unwilling to face the unbearable loneliness. When reality finally set in, he gave Cordoba a simple farewell and released his body into the sea. Now, Alvarenga was entirely alone.
The isolation was overwhelming. Each day seemed endless, and the hope of rescue felt like a distant dream. Yet, despite the crushing loneliness, Alvarenga held on to a small glimmer of hope. He had survived this long, and he resolved to endure, no matter how impossible it seemed.
What Kept Him Going Through Loneliness and Fear
After Cordoba was gone, Alvarenga was left with an unbearable emptiness. Being alone in the middle of the vast ocean, with no one to share his fears, was a torment he had never imagined. Each day stretched endlessly, and every moment felt like a battle against his own thoughts. There were times when he considered giving up, but a small flicker of hope deep within kept him clinging to life. He believed, however faintly, that someone might still find him.
Days blurred into one another as Alvarenga lost all sense of time. His clothes were reduced to tatters, his hair and beard grew unkempt, and he became a shadow of the man who had set out on the fishing trip. Though his body grew weak and frail, he pushed himself to endure, refusing to let despair take over.
One day, he spotted a massive ship in the distance. His heart pounded with excitement as he waved his arms and shouted, desperate to be noticed. He saw figures on the deck waving back, and a wave of relief swept over him. Finally, it seemed, rescue had come. But as he waited for the ship to approach, it turned and sailed away, leaving him devastated.
The following day, another ship appeared on the horizon. Alvarenga dared not let himself feel the same hope again, fearing another heartbreak. As before, the ship passed by without stopping. Confused and disheartened, he looked around and noticed land nearby. His heart lifted briefly, but he soon realized the truth it was nothing more than a hallucination.
From that point, Alvarenga’s mind began to betray him. He saw ships, land, and even people that were not there. Each illusion brought crushing disappointment, yet he still refused to give up entirely. The flickering hope that had kept him alive through the worst of his trials now became his sole anchor.
Even as his body weakened to the point of collapse, Alvarenga’s spirit remained unbroken. He had survived so much, and despite the overwhelming odds, he was not ready to surrender. That small ember of hope, fragile but persistent, became his driving force. It was all that kept him going through the suffocating loneliness and the constant fear.
How Alvarenga Defied All Odds to Make It Back Alive
Alvarenga had been drifting for what felt like an eternity when something extraordinary happened. One day, he noticed small coconuts floating near the boat. At first, he thought it was another cruel hallucination, but as more and more coconuts appeared, he dared to hope. Then, he saw birds circling above something he had not seen in countless months.
Peering over the edge of the boat, Alvarenga squinted into the distance. That was when he saw it—a real island. His heart raced as he rubbed his eyes repeatedly, fearing it might be another trick of his mind. But no matter how many times he checked, the island remained. This time, it was real.
The boat slowly drifted toward the island, but the progress was agonizingly slow. Alvarenga, desperate to feel solid ground beneath his feet, could not wait any longer. Summoning the last reserves of his strength, he leapt into the water and swam toward the shore. When his hands finally touched the warm sand, his body gave out, and he collapsed in a mix of relief and exhaustion.
After 438 days at sea, Alvarenga had finally reached land. The island was small, but to him, it was paradise. For the first time in over a year, he was no longer surrounded by the endless ocean.
Staggering to his feet, he began searching for help. At first, the island seemed deserted, but then he spotted a house in the distance. With his heart pounding, he made his way to the door and knocked. A couple answered, their shocked expressions speaking volumes. They could not believe how someone could survive and reach their island without a ship.
Before Alvarenga could explain, his strength gave out once more, and he collapsed. The couple quickly brought him inside, giving him water and food while tending to his weakened body. When he regained enough strength, he shared his incredible story of survival. Deeply moved, they helped him get to a nearby mainland, where he could begin his journey back home.
After 500 days, Alvarenga finally returned to where he belonged. The experience felt surreal, but he knew he had defied impossible odds. Few could truly grasp the depth of what he had endured, yet he would never forget the harrowing journey that nearly claimed his life or the unyielding strength that brought him back.
Read the full decoded case of Spain’s Asunta: What Happened to Asunta Basterra? Full Story and Truth Behind The Asunta’s Case – 2013.
ANNEX: (Relevant Materials about the true story)
- For the Alvarenga’s true story of survival book: Alvarenga’s book about his 438 days of survival.
- For the Image of Carboda: Check here
- For the Alvarenga boat photo & The doctor who treated him said: Check here
- For the Alvarenga’s First Appearance in Media: Check here