An believable tale is unfolding before our eyes in the Marshall Islands today reminding everyone of the tale from the novel, The Life of Pi. A man, Jose Salvador Alvarenga, has washed ashore in the Marshall Islands. He claims he set out to sea from the west coast Mexico for a day of shark fishing in December 2012 when a storm blew him (and his companion, Ezekiel) off course. They were carried off to sea; beginning a 13 month ordeal. Poor Ezekiel died early on, leaving Alvarenga to eat raw fish, turtles, and birds in order to survive. He miraculously washed ashore in the Marshall Islands: that's his story and he's sticking to it.
However, unlike survivors of lesser adventures, Alvarenga is robust looking - not thin. (Perhaps he likes bird and turtle sushi?) Details of his story remain sketchy. He is unclear of exactly where he departed from in Mexico, he claims 3 brothers in America although he has no contact details, he has no personal identification, he claims to have no family in Mexico, and he arrived in the Marshall Islands a bit (well) early.
Although it is possible that a boat launched from Mexico's west coast would eventually find its way to the Marshall Islands, it would take approximately 18 months to a year to do so, according to a Sydney-based oceanographer. Alveranga, made it in 13 months - adding a bit more skepticism to an already doubting crowd of bureaucrats. If his story checks out, perhaps someone should recruit him to compete in the America's Cup races this year (once they figure out where to hold the race).
However, unlike survivors of lesser adventures, Alvarenga is robust looking - not thin. (Perhaps he likes bird and turtle sushi?) Details of his story remain sketchy. He is unclear of exactly where he departed from in Mexico, he claims 3 brothers in America although he has no contact details, he has no personal identification, he claims to have no family in Mexico, and he arrived in the Marshall Islands a bit (well) early.
Although it is possible that a boat launched from Mexico's west coast would eventually find its way to the Marshall Islands, it would take approximately 18 months to a year to do so, according to a Sydney-based oceanographer. Alveranga, made it in 13 months - adding a bit more skepticism to an already doubting crowd of bureaucrats. If his story checks out, perhaps someone should recruit him to compete in the America's Cup races this year (once they figure out where to hold the race).
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