A fisherman who vanished during what was supposed to be a simple day on the water has been found alive after spending a week lost at sea in a tiny 13-foot boat.
The man was spotted Friday morning in the northern Cook Islands, a remote stretch of the Pacific about 2,100 miles north of New Zealand, after a Royal New Zealand Air Force crew joined the desperate search.
A stunning photo released by the New Zealand Defence Force shows the fisherman standing inside his small aluminum rowboat, waving his arms at rescuers while wearing a blue T-shirt, black shorts and a sports visor.
Another image shared by the Royal New Zealand Air Force showed him holding a paddle in the air, desperately signaling for help.
Authorities said nearby fishing vessels were able to reach the man and pick him up after he was spotted by the RNZAF P-8A Poseidon crew.
The fisherman had set off from Pukapuka Island on June 11 for what was meant to be a day-long fishing trip. But when he failed to return, alarm quickly spread through the small island community.
He was reported overdue to local police the next day, and New Zealand’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre later requested help from the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
The search aircraft and crew began looking for him on Thursday, June 18. By Friday morning, the missing fisherman was found alive.
Pukapuka, once known as Danger Island, is one of the most remote islands in the Cook Islands. It sits around 708 miles northwest of Rarotonga, the largest island in the nation.
Officials have not publicly confirmed the fisherman’s identity. However, local outlet Cook Islands News reported that authorities had been searching the same area for 42-year-old Pone Apiuta, who disappeared after heading out alone in a 13-foot aluminum boat.
According to local reports cited by the New Zealand Herald, Apiuta was last seen around 5 p.m. local time on June 11 on the northwest side of Pukapuka. Police were alerted after he did not come home.
The outlet reported that rough seas and strong winds had raised fears during the search.
Apiuta, described as a father of one, was called “a kind person who had a great love for fishing” by those who know him.
Cook Islands Police Commissioner Tai Joseph thanked New Zealand for its help in the rescue effort, saying officials were grateful for the assistance provided in the search.
The fisherman’s survival stunned many after seven days adrift in a tiny open boat with little protection from the elements.
What began as an ordinary fishing trip turned into a week-long fight for survival in one of the most isolated parts of the Pacific — and ended with a rescue that many feared might never come.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
What's Up Team