A fisherman who was lost at sea managed to survive for 11 days - by climbing into an upturned freezer. Romualdo Macedo Rodrigues, 44, was sailing off the coast of French Guiana in a seven-metre wooden boat when it began taking on water and promptly sank.
To make matters worse, the Brazillian native couldn't swim - but luckily he had a freezer on board so he climbed into that and hoped it would float. He then managed to stay afloat in the floating freezer for 11 days, with no food or water, before he was eventually spotted and pulled from the sea by the crew of another vessel off the coast of Suriname, which borders French Guiana.
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He spoke to a local news outlet, and said: "I thought I was going to be attacked by sharks because there are lots of curious fish on the high seas."
He told of the moment of his rescue, saying: "I heard a noise and there was a boat above the freezer. Except they thought there was no one there.
"Then they slowly got closer, my vision was fading, and then I said, 'My God, the boat'. I raised my arms and asked for help."
Romualdo spent his time adrift without food or water and believes he lost about five kilogrammes (11 lbs) during that time.
He added: "What troubled me most was the thirst."
Referring to the appliance that saved his life, he said: "This fridge, for me, was God. A miracle."
Brazillian media reported that Romualdo was rescued 280 miles from where his boat sank, and dramatic footage of his rescue on August 11 has been shared.
In the clip, the exhausted fisherman tumbled onto the floor of the Surinamese fishing vessel when his freezer was lifted onboard - as he was severely dehydrated and disorientated.
He was given water to drink and porridge to eat, but when the boat returned to shore Romualdo was arrested by police for not having the correct travel documents.
He then spent 16 days behind pars in Paramaribo.
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Police officer Luis Carlos Porto said: "He was very thin, debilitated, but in very good spirits. The wounds he had on his body, which were related to the sun, were already much better.
"He says he had vision problems due to the excessive heat, salt, and light, but he was very calm and in good health."
Romualdo was eventually released and returned to his home country via plane, and he went on to describe his rescue as "the most important day" of his life, saying he was "born again".
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