Monday, February 3, 2014
Man Survives 13 Months Adrift In The Pacific Ocean By Drinking Turtle Blood..
Frail, bearded but smiling, Jose Salvador Alvarenga came ashore on the island of Majuro on Monday after his terrible ordeal and spoke to MailOnlineJose only survived by catching, birds, fish, turtles and drinking their blood
He said: 'I thank God and I thank the birds I caught to eat. I caught fish and at times I drank my own urine to have liquid'
Rambling at times, he can remember very little of his past life
He looked plumper than expected, but a doctor said it was because his body has swollen from the conditions he endured
But questions have started to creep in about his 'incredible' story. A local official said: 'I'm not sure if I believe his story. I may have some doubts'Claims he left Mexico for El Salvador in December 2012 with a companion, aged between 15 and 18, who died after four weeks
The 'Miracle Man of the Pacific' - the fisherman who claimed he survived on turtle blood, raw fish and seagull flesh as he drifted helplessly for more than a year returned to civilization today to mounting questions over his ordeal.
Stumbling ashore today at a dock in Majuro, the capital of the Marshall Islands, Jose Salvador Alvarenga managed a smile before telling MailOnline: 'I'm alive - I'm alive and I can't believe it.'
When asked about his ordeal he simply replied: 'I cannot remember much about my journey. It has all gone into one thought - the sea, the sea.'
Jose said he desperately wanted to phone his family - his wife and his 10-year-old daughter - in El Salvador but he cannot remember the name of the village or a phone number. 'I have forgotten many things,' he told MailOnline.
Jose says he has even forgotten exactly how old he is. He 'believes' he is about 36 to 38, even though his ordeal has made him appear much older.
'He is here, with us, but he isn't here with us,' an interpreter who has spoken to Jose told MailOnline. 'He is still disorientated, there is no doubt about that.'
Questions have started to mount over his 'incredible' story that if true makes his one of the most amazing in maritime history.
Gee Bing, the acting secretary of foreign affairs for the Marshall Islands, said he was somewhat skeptical of Jose's account after meeting with him Monday.
Bing said the man had no identification with him and other details of his story remained sketchy, including the exact location of his departure from Mexico.
'It does sound like an incredible story and I'm not sure if I believe his story,' Bing said. 'When we saw him,
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