Words in News Man survives 16 months at sea It could be story from a Hollywood movie: a man alone at sea for more than a year, killing animals to stay alive. Thats what Jose Salvador barengo from Mexico says. Report: Jose Salvador Alvarenga set out on a shark fishing trip off the Pacific coast of Mexico in Dec. 2012, but his boat broke down. He then claims to have drifted 8,000 miles to the Marshall Islands, southwest of Hawaii. A man who was along with him died several months earlier. Alvarenga says he survived by drinking rainwater, as well as his own urine, and eating raw fish, birds and turtles - anything he could get hold of, he would kill with his bare hands. Jose told his rescuers he even drank turtle blood to stay alive during the 16 months, he says he was adrift at sea. When his boat finally washed up at Ebon Atoll on Thursday, halfway between Hawaii and Australia, he was emaciated and barely able to walk. Ola Fjeldstad, a Norwegian anthropology student whos doing research in the Marshall Islands, said : “Joses fiberglass boat bore the signs of the harrowing 7,500-mile detour. We first found his boat, which was probably a 24-footer, engine broken, grown over with shells and other sea animals. And it had a live baby bird, a dead turtle, some turtle shells, fish leftovers and it was in pretty bad condition.” Locals have been nursing the long-haired, bearded stranger back to health. Ola Fjeldstad says: “Joses doing much better, hes gained a lot of strength. Hes been eating a lot of food, fish, rice, fruit and drinking coffee. Hes in a lot better shape now. Hes able to walk around by himself and cracking jokes!” There are good reasons to be cheerful; had he missed the Marshall Islands, it could have been another 1,000 or so miles before Jose would have had any hope of hitting land again. ☆More new words to be added to your ‘Vocabulary Notebook’…☆ Adrift: (of a boat) Moving across the water but not controlled by anyone, aimless. Emaciated: Thin and weak because of extreme hunger or illness, skinny. Anthropology: The study of human societies, cultures and beliefs. Harrowing: Extremely frightening or upsetting. Tragedy: A very sad situation, often involving death. Circumstances: Events that make a situation the way it is. Nursing: (here) Taking care of. https://facebook/#!/groups/259141344245979/ https://facebook/#!/groups/801741773174164/
Posted on: Tue, 13 May 2014 18:41:25 +0000
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