Brazilian fisherman survives by floating in freezer for 11 days after boat began to sink in ocean
"I was desperate. I thought my end was coming. But thanks God, God gave me one more chance," Rodrigues said to the Record TV.
September 5, 2022, 8:01 am

Brazilian fisherman survives by floating in freezer for 11 days after boat began to sink in ocean

Romualdo Macedo Rodrigues, 44, was travelling in a 23ft-long wooden boat from Oiapoque, in Amapa state, northern Brazil at the end of July - Photo. Pixabay

A Brazillian man has survived 11 days in the Atlantic Ocean after his boat sank, sheltering in a freezer for 11 days, Record TV reports.

Romualdo Macedo Rodrigues, 44, was travelling in a 23ft-long wooden boat from Oiapoque, in Amapa state, northern Brazil at the end of July, the Metro reported.

He was aiming to get to Ilet la Mere, an island off the coast of French Guiana, to spend a few days fishing, it mentioned.

But disaster struck and his boat began to fill with water and start sinking.

He then took refuge in a floating freezer to stay alive and was found by another group of fishermen 11 days later.

After returning to Brazil, the man said "I was born again. I thought I wouldn't be telling this story, but I'm back here."

WATCH: A Brazilian fisherman spent 11 days at sea without food or water, but survived by floating inside a freezer.

Romualdo Macedo Rodrigues, 44, left northern Brazil in a wooden boat in late July. pic.twitter.com/FHEr5b1J9H
— BNN Brazil (@BNNBRNews) September 3, 2022

"I was desperate. I thought my end was coming. But thanks God, God gave me one more chance," Rodrigues said to the Record TV.

"I saw it (freezer) wasn't sinking. I jumped (inside it), it fell to one side and kept normal."

He added that he does not know how to swim.

A swimmer died after being attacked by a shark off Sydney’s Little Bay Beach

"Sharks were surrounding the freezer, but they went away. I thought (I would be attacked). I stayed on the top (of the freezer), I didn't sleep, I didn't sleep. I saw the dawn, the dusk, asking God to send someone to rescue me."

He said he used his hand to scoop out the water that started to creep inside the freezer. He didn't have food or water, he added, and lost more than 10lbs during his ordeal.

"I was thinking about my kids, my wife. Every day I was thinking about my mother, my father, all my family. It gave me strength and hope ... but at the moment I thought there was no other way."

Polar bear killed after injuring woman at Arctic Svalbard campsite

He said that when the fisherman arrived he heard a noise and saw the freezer on top of the boat.

"Only they thought there was no one there. Then they slowly pulled over, my vision was already fading, then I said, 'My God, the boat.' I raised my arms and asked for help."

levantnews-anews-metro

Next British PM to be revealed at 1130 GMT today US ambassador leaves Russia, will retire amid historic tensions

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”