Higuerote (Venezuela) – For Mariely C. (40) and her young family, it should be a romantic boat trip to the Caribbean island of La Tortuga. But the motorboat got into distress, drifted off – four long days. The terrible consequences: Mother Mariely died of thirst in the scorching heat, her husband Remis David C. (is still missing) probably drowned. The couple’s children, on the other hand, survived the ordeal – and for one reason only.
On Friday morning, September 3rd, the white excursion boat “Thor” left the port of the small town of Higuerote on the Venezuelan coast. The skipper had eight passengers on board, including the Mariely family. The weekend travel destination: The uninhabited Caribbean island of La Tortuga, around 100 kilometers away. But the ship should never arrive there …
The boat started in Higuerote. Then on his way to La Tortuga the drama broke outPhoto:.
As “The Sun” reports, the excursion boat “Thor” is said to have been hit by a huge wave on the high seas, which shattered the hull of the boat. Unable to maneuver, the wreck drifted off course. There is still no trace of five castaways. Among those missing are the skipper and Mariely’s husband, Remis, David C.
Immediately after the accident, 40-year-old Mariely, her daughter Maria (2), her son Jose (6) and her nanny Veronica M. (25) managed to use a large piece of debris as an improvised life raft.
No GPS, no radio, no provisions, no water and the scorching heat. Now hell began for the four castaways: their martyrdom was to last four agonizing days and nights. In the end, only nanny Veronica and siblings survived. Mother Mariely died of thirst – only three hours before sea rescuers could finally rescue the castaways …
Because of this, the children survived
The nanny was found crouching in front of the remains of a small refrigerator. Apparently she sought shelter from the scorching sun in it. The children were also very dehydrated, suffered severe skin burns and are severely traumatized. They only survived for one reason.
As the rescuers approached the wreckage, the children are said to have clung to their dead motherPhoto: INEA
A spokesman for the Venezuelan National Maritime Administration announced:
The late mother kept her children alive by breastfeeding them and drinking their own urine.
A spokesman for the authorities named “organ failure caused by dehydration” as the official cause of death.
The rescue operation
The search and rescue operation started when the “Thor” did not return to the home port of Higuerote as agreed on Sunday. Among other things, helicopters, aircraft and patrol boats of the coast guard were alerted.
The Venezuelan shipping authority INEA reports: “The port authorities were on
Informed 5 September at around 11 p.m. that the boat had not returned and a search was initiated. On September 6th at 6:20 pm we noticed a small white ship. “
A spokesman: “On September 7th at 2:10 p.m. four people, including two children, were rescued from the coast guard ship AB Carecare”Photo: INEA
The spokesman warned that their chances of survival would have been much higher if the group had had a radio or GPS or other safety devices such as flares with them.
► The search for the five other missing persons, including the father of the children, continues. Even if the hope of finding her alive is fading.
► The children and their nanny were taken to hospital immediately after they were rescued. In addition to physical injuries, they suffer from post-traumatic stress.
The funeral of the mother Mariely C. took place on Saturday, September 11th.
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