Fisherman Rescued After Eight Days Adrift
Junior Apiuta Apiuta, a fisherman from Pukapuka in the Cook Islands, has recounted his harrowing eight-day ordeal adrift in the Pacific Ocean after his boat's engine failed. He was rescued on 18 June by a Taiwanese fishing vessel after being spotted by a New Zealand air force plane.
Ordeal Begins
On 11 June, after playing volleyball, Apiuta prepared his fishing gear and headed out to sea. Strong winds and birds led him to fish, but soon his engine began to fail, spluttering and cutting out. As darkness fell, the engine died completely, leaving him stranded without tools to repair it.
Apiuta considered swimming to shore but decided against it, staying on his four-metre aluminium skiff. The lights of Pukapuka faded as he drifted into the vast ocean.
Surviving the Elements
Apiuta faced towering waves, bitter cold, and constant rain. Twice he was thrown into the water by huge swells. He survived on two bottles of water, raw fish he caught, and rainwater collected in a bucket. He used a sheet and a chilly bin to protect himself from the cold.
“I didn’t lose hope. I just felt sad,” Apiuta said, recalling the loneliness and uncertainty.
Rescue and Aftermath
On the eighth day, a New Zealand air force plane circled overhead and alerted fishing vessels. A Taiwanese boat approached, and Apiuta whistled until a crew member heard him. He was taken aboard, showered, fed, and contacted his family. “The first thing that came out of my mouth was, ‘Darling, I’m okay,’” he said.
Apiuta was taken to New Zealand and will return to the Cook Islands. He plans to continue fishing but with more caution: “Don’t forget about your torch, life jacket. Don’t forget the raincoat. Say your prayer before you start going fishing.”
