Adrift on a sailboat from Gandía to Algeria: a man missing for two weeks at sea is rescued
A merchant ship has taken him on board and he will arrive this Thursday at the port of Algeciras.
BarcelonaA 69-year-old man disappeared on January 15th when he set sail from the port of Gandia, in the Safor region. His route was supposed to take him to Guardamar del Segura, in the Vega Baja region, but nothing was heard from him for two weeks. Finally, he was rescued more than 100 nautical miles away: he was found safe and sound in Algerian waters. On Wednesday, the Directorate General of the Merchant Marine and the Civil Guard reported that a Frontex aircraft—the European Union's border management agency—located the sailboat adrift in Algerian territorial waters and that a merchant ship, the Thor Confidence, boarded the vessel. The ship is expected to arrive at the port of Algeciras on Thursday, and from there the man will be transferred to Alicante. The sailboat, named Admirante, is nine meters long.. His disappearance was reported by the partner of the 69-year-old man, who has little sailing experience and whose engine battery died. The sailboat also lacked a radio.
"Relentless Search"
The operation was coordinated with the Maritime Action Operations and Surveillance Center (COVAM) of the Navy and the National Rescue Coordination Center, and it was found after the search with Algerian rescue resources was deactivated on the 24th, "after nine days of tireless searching".
