Marooned fishermen survive rough Bay of Bengal on fish, water

The six fishermen who were miraculously saved by the Indian Cost Guard (ICG) on Friday after they were marooned mid-sea in Bay of Bengal for over 15 days ran out of rations and drinking water on the fifth day itself. However, what is now emerging as a fascinating case of human beings' survival instinct, they did not give up and lived on only fish all these days while at the same time hoping against any tangible hope that they would be saved.

Stranded in sea after they went for fishing from the Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh on June 15 due to cylone, on Thursday morning, when they sighting the Dornier aircraft flying over them, the six men frantically waved and screamed for help. Luckily, the two pilots smelled something was wrong and lowered down. On reaching closer, they took photographs and sent it to Cost Guard's rescue team.

Following this, a recuse ship went and brought them back.

"The fishermen, who were on Saturday rescued and brought to Haldia port told us that they survived only on fish. They ate as less as they could. Since, they were short of drinking water too, they mixed whatever water they had with sea water and drank it to survive," said a senior Coast Guard official involved in the recue.

The fishing boat set on sail on June 15 and were due to return on June 18. However, the boat was adrift without propulsion and power supply because of engine failure. A Dornier aircraft on a sortie from Bhubaneshwar in Ordisha, spotted the boat 145 nautical miles off Haldia.