Fishermen miraculously found alive in giant cooler after 5 days lost at sea

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Two Mexican fishermen were found alive inside their cooler almost being lost at sea for five days, according to a report

Daniel Guerrero Martínez, 53, and his pal José Luis Portelas Villegas, 32, went without food or water as they tried to stay afloat in the Pacific Ocean before they were dramatically rescued on Wednesday, Mexican outlet Milenio reported.

The duo had left the fishing town of Paredón, Chiapas, on their boat, the Camaronera, last Thursday – but they lost contact the following day after their vessel sank, sparking a frantic search effort.

First, boats trying to replicate the fishermen’s route were sent out before the search was expanded.

An aircraft was then flown to scour a larger area of the ocean before the navy was also deployed.

Remarkably, Martínez and Villegas were found bobbing in the Pacific Ocean – 150 miles off the coast of Chiapas — inside their cooler, five days after the search started.

“The deployment of surface and air units under the Trinomio concept (ship–interceptor–aircraft) made it possible to expand the search, locate the fishermen, bring them to safety and reunite them with their families,” Mexico’s Secretariat of the Navy said, hailing the rescue effort. 

Martinez and Villegas were rescued before being airlifted to a hospital as they were suffering from severe dehydration.

An investigation into the sinking has since been launched – with initial reports suggesting wind and bad weather may have been key factors. It’s not clear if the boat suffered engine trouble.