Cook Islands Fisherman Recounts Ordeal After Week Lost at Sea

A fisherman from the remote Cook Islands has described his harrowing week lost at sea, surviving relentless storms and violent waves. Apiuta Apiuta, known as Pone, from the island of Pukapuka, was eventually rescued by the crew of a Taiwanese fishing vessel after being spotted by a New Zealand Defence Force aircraft. He had set out in his dinghy to catch fish for his community but forgot essential items like a torch and lifejacket. His outboard motor failed, leaving him drifting away from the island as he tried to row ashore. Facing harsh conditions for four days, Apiuta was twice washed overboard by towering waves. He managed to collect rainwater in his bucket, providing crucial hydration, but endured extreme cold in just shorts and a T-shirt. Despite the dire situation, Apiuta maintained his survival instincts, finding a moment of companionship with a local bird he called 'tākapu,' which he saw as a good omen. His ordeal ended on the seventh day when the sound of an RNZAF P-8A Poseidon aircraft signaled his impending rescue.

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The waves that hit me, twice fell off the boat.