Fishers who survived being adrift at sea ready to sail again
By Carla Gomez
Visayas Bureau
First Posted 11:25:00 06/28/2008
BACOLOD CITY, Philippines -- Cadiz fishermen, who swam for 12 up to 17 hours through huge waves at near zero visibility at the height of typhoon "Frank" (international codename: Fengshen) before hitting land, have said that their harrowing ordeal would not deter them from going back to sea.
Many of them had gaping wounds on their feet from climbing on jagged edged rocks and shells to safety when they finally hit land.
Twenty six fishermen, 22 of F/B South Sea and four from F/B Laura Vicor, arrived in Bacolod City on Thursday.
They were treated for their wounds by the Negros Occidental provincial health office personnel and were served lunch provided by Governor Isidro Zayco at the provincial capitol before they left for Cadiz City.
Eleven other survivors and three dead fishermen were brought directly to Cadiz City.
The fishermen on F/B Laura Vicor and F/B South Sea sought refuge on Olutaya Island in front of Roxas City but typhoon Frank changed course at 5 a.m. on Saturday and battered their vessels until they turned upside down, M/V South Sea captain Celso Almonicar said.
Almonicar, 54, said he and the other members of his crew got on styrofoam floaters and drifted at sea until they saw land that they reached at about 10 p.m. on the same day.
Almonicar said on reaching land, which turned out to be Sapatos Island, they hastily climbed over jagged rocks and shells to safety causing the cuts in their feet.
He said 21 of F/B South Sea's 29 crewmembers made it to the shore.
The others who wore life vests said they swam for 12 hours until they reached the Sapatos Island.
Leo Alo, 25, of MB South Sea, said it was difficult to see what was up ahead as he swam because the waves were huge. "I kept wiping my face with my hand, when we got to land I discovered that the seawater had cut my face," Alo said.
Nestor Mapa, 32, of the F/B Laura Vicor said it was a 16-kilometer swim from where their vessel sank to Sapatos Island.
But Almonicar and Mapa said their experience would not stop them from working on fishing vessels again.
"This has been my life. What we went through has not scared me away," Almonicar said.
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