Fishermen rescued after five days adrift in a freezer off Mexico's coast

Two Mexican fishermen survived for five days adrift in the Pacific Ocean after their boat capsized, managing to climb into a freezer to stay afloat. José Luis Portelas, the younger of the two, recounted the harrowing experience, stating that a wave swamped their vessel at 3 a.m. local time. The incident happened so quickly, in less than five minutes, that they had no time to grab essentials like drinking water, food, or a radio.

"Everything we could do was empty the freezer and get into it," Portelas explained in a video filmed after their rescue. His companion, Daniel Guerrero, described the ordeal as difficult, emphasizing their lack of fishing gear and water. "It didn't rain. We almost baked in the sun," he added, highlighting the harsh conditions they endured.

The fishermen were found approximately 240 kilometers off the coast of Chiapas, Mexico, during a search and rescue operation coordinated by the navy, which involved ships and aircraft. They were spotted in a blue freezer before being rescued and receiving medical attention. The navy later transported them by helicopter to the port of Puerto Chiapas, where they were met by their emotional families.