Junior Apiuta Apiuta, a fisher from the Cook Islands, survived eight days adrift in the Pacific Ocean after his small aluminium boat's engine failed. He was rescued on 18 June by a Taiwanese fishing vessel alerted by the New Zealand air force.
Ordeal begins
On 11 June, Apiuta left his home island of Pukapuka—about 1,140km northwest of Rarotonga—for a solo fishing trip. After playing volleyball, he prepared his gear and headed to sea. Strong winds blew as he followed birds indicating fish. Soon, his engine began to fail, spluttering and cutting out. As darkness fell, the engine died completely. He had no tools to fix it.
Apiuta considered swimming to shore but knew he wouldn't make it. He stayed on the boat as the lights of Pukapuka faded. "My first night wasn't as bad as the next days that awaited me," he said.
Struggle for survival
In the following days, he faced huge waves, bitter cold, and constant rain. Twice he was thrown into the ocean by swells. "Big waves, way higher than the boat, slammed [me] from both sides … but I wasn't scared because I never lost faith and stopped praying," he said.
He survived on two bottles of water, raw fish he caught, and rainwater collected in a bucket. He used a sheet and a chilly bin to protect himself from the cold. At night, he was freezing and could do little but pray.
Hope and rescue
On the third day, he saw a fishing vessel and paddled toward it, but the wind pushed him away. On the eighth day, he heard a plane. The New Zealand air force circled above and directed fishing vessels to search. A Taiwanese boat approached; Apiuta whistled until a crew member heard him and shone a torch. After seven nights and eight days, he was found.
"I didn't lose hope. I just felt sad," Apiuta said. Safely onboard, he showered, ate, and called his partner: "Darling, I'm okay." He was taken to New Zealand and will return home soon. He plans to fish again, but with more caution: "Don't forget about your torch, life jacket. Don't forget the raincoat. Say your prayer before you start going fishing."
