Layonel Ramirez Collado, 27, was left floating towards the Atlantic ocean after being cut adrift off the Canary Islands – he was found three days later after waving to a plane passing overhead
A man has been rescued after spending 38 hours cut adrift at sea after his jet ski broke down.
Layonel Ramirez Collado, 27, was stranded at sea in the blazing sun for three days before being discovered by a rescue team.
According to rescuers, the man was out on a boat with friends on Monday evening near the town of Juan Grande in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands. The jet ski was attached to the vessel with a rope, and Mr Collado jumped in after it when it suddenly came loose, promising his friends he would follow them to the shore.
But the 27-year-old ended up drifting out further into sea as night fell, while the rest of the group waited at a meeting point on the coast.
A major search was launched after they raised the alarm at 11pm, but Layonel – who was bravely clinging on to his jet ski – could not be found.
After a second night spent floating out into the Atlantic, on the third day he managed to catch the attention of a passing aircraft 15 nautical miles (17 miles) southwest of Arguineguín, according to the Spanish maritime rescue service.
He was found sitting patiently on the jet ski, waiting for rescue, his condition described as “dehydrated” and with some sunburn but conscious.
Mr Collado was finally brought ashore by a cargo vessel on Wednesday, and rescuers said he “appeared to be in good health”, complaining only of “slight chest pain” from lying on the hull of the jet ski.
He was taken San Roque Meloneras Hospital in San Bartolomé de Tirajana for checks.
His family were relieved to eventually welcome him home – and his mother said she was worried but confident that he would return safe the entire time he was missing, telling daily newspaper Canarias 7: “I told you so. He held on to the jet ski and that’s why he didn’t drown.”
“He’s given me the best gift of my life,” she added, while one friend who greeted him at the port when he came ashore said: “Anyone who knows him knows that he’s a warrior, a fighter.”
But his family slammed what they saw as a flawed initial response by the Spanish authorities, saying they did not continue the search at night, and had carried it out too near the coast.
After his 38-hour ordeal, Layonel told loved ones the first thing he wanted to was relax by watching Netflix.