Young man miraculously survives after 7 weeks drifting at sea
(Baonghean) - Seven weeks drifting at sea alone without food or water. That is what Aldi Novel Adilang, an 18-year-old Indonesian man, had to go through after an unexpected adventure of more than 2,500 km across the Pacific Ocean.
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| The rompong carrying Adilang drifted thousands of kilometers for 49 days in the Pacific Ocean. Photo: AP |
Aldi Novel Adilang's story happened in mid-July when he was working alone on a rompong - a traditional fishing raft anchored 125 km off the coast of Cebebes (Indonesia).
The young man was assigned to watch the lamp, the lamp that attracted fish into the trap placed on the raft. Every week, the raft owner would bring food, water, and fuel to Adilang.
The raft Adilang worked on had no engine or oars and was anchored only by a long rope. It was blown out to sea by strong winds and big waves. For the first few days, Adilang survived on the little food and water left on the raft.
When his food supplies ran out, the 19-year-old used his clothes to filter seawater for drinking and fish for food. However, a few days later, the fuel for cooking quickly ran out.
Necessity is the mother of invention, Adilang started to dismantle the wooden bars on the rompong to make a fire to cook while waiting for rescue.
However, the young man's hope of being rescued gradually faded when more than 10 boats passed by without stopping or seeing him.
On August 31, Adilang tried to attract the attention of a passing ship by waving his clothes but to no avail. Not giving up, the young man continued to try connecting to a radio frequency to ask for help, following a trick Adilang's friend had taught him.
Fortunately, this signal was picked up by Captain Arpeggio on the Panamanian-flagged ship and he decided to turn the ship back.
Because of the rough seas, the ship could not approach the rompong. The crew threw a rope into the water for the young Indonesian to hold on to.
Despite having to swim in poor health, Adilang still persistently clung to the rope to be pulled onto the ship, ending 49 days of drifting thousands of kilometers at sea. The ship brought Adilang safely back to Japan, the departure point of the ship that rescued Adilang.
Receiving the news that her son was alive, Net Kahiking, Adilang's mother, felt very happy. It is known that Adilang is the youngest of the four brothers in the family.
Despite a difficult journey at sea, Adilang finally returned home in September in good health to celebrate his 19th birthday on September 30.
