Lost fisherman drinks own urine to survive

A Walvis Bay fisherman who was missing at sea yesterday shared his ordeal with the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), saying he had to drink his own urine to stay hydrated.

Lisius Nkandi is safely back on land.

After days adrift in a rubber boat, Nkandi was able to make contact and was eventually assisted by the Namibian Marshall Rangers at Cape Cross.

“Despite the difficulties, I was able to make contact while adrift in a rubber boat far north of the coast,” he said.

“I had to wait until the waves calmed down before I could try to make my way back to shore.”

Nkandi described the challenges he faced during his time adrift.

“I had to be cautious and wait for the right moment to move,” he explained. “I had lights with me, which helped me navigate and survive until I reached help.”

The fisherman recalled a particularly terrifying moment when he was swept underwater.

“I was under the water, but I was holding onto my life jacket,” he said.

“Subject (Nkandi) found safe and sound. Thank you all for your assistance,” Erongo police chief inspector Hilma Shomongula confirmed yesterday.

She said Nkandi had been missing since Sunday. He disappeared while the fishing vessel he was on, the Compony, was stranded at sea.

“On Sunday, the victim allegedly disembarked, launched a rubber dingy without any motor, abandoned the vessel and sailed towards the land,” Shomongula said.

The incident occurred after the fishing vessel encountered mechanical difficulties and became stranded.

While seven crew members were safely brought back to the harbour, Nkandi remained missing until yesterday.

Two other individuals are still stranded on the vessel and in dire need of assistance, Sean Naude of the Namibian Marshall Rangers said.

“The man who was lost at sea has been found and is out of the water. He is well known on the fishing vessels at Walvis Bay. While we are relieved that one person has been rescued, our work is not complete.”

Naude said the rescue team is facing challenging conditions due to the rough seas and strong spring tides.

“We still need to make our way into the ocean this morning to provide much-needed supplies to the two men left on the vessel anchored offshore,” he said.

“The ocean is very rough, and we ask everyone to keep us in their hearts and prayers as the last few days and ventures into the ocean have been hard on our vehicles, vessels, and our crew.”

The situation is further complicated by the absence of a tugboat that was expected to arrive on Tuesday, Naude said.
“The tugboat that was supposed to arrive yesterday at 16h00 never arrived, and we do not know what the future of the ship or the two crew on board is,” he said.

“However, they currently have no food or water, and it is our duty to make sure they are taken care of until resolved.

“They are out of supplies because Nkandi took all their supplies. People are so focused on the man who was lost at sea, but they forget the other two still at sea, as well as our rescue team which has spent hours out at sea. This is our third supply run.”

– Additional reporting NBC